Last week, the University of St. Andrews disgracefully dismissed its elected Rector, Stella Maris for calling for an immediate ceasefire and for an end to Israel’s genocide and apartheid

Rector Stella Maris was elected by students to represent their voice independently. Her dismissal is based on an email she circulated to students in November 2023 calling for an immediate ceasefire, which mirrored the Scottish Parliament’s position at the time. She has been demonised and suspended for correctly describing Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip as genocidal, and for condemning Israel’s imposition of a system of apartheid, illegal military occupation, siege, and collective punishment.

This egregious decision is the latest example of the misuse of university disciplinary processes to unjustly target Palestinians and pro-Palestinian voices at higher education institutions in Britain. It has contributed to a chilling effect on campuses, leading staff and students to self-censor.

By caving to pressure from pro-Israel groups, the University of St. Andrews is helping to shield Israel from accountability. Israel’s slaughter of over 40,000 Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip has been accepted as a plausible case of genocide by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ has also ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip is unlawful, and that Israel’s actions violate the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.  

This decision not only undermines academic freedom, but it also isolates the university from mainstream legal and human rights consensus.  

We must push back on attempts to silence solidarity with Palestine. Help us demand the University of St. Andrews reverse their discriminatory decision by signing our petition and sharing as widely as possible.

Thank you for all that you do.

In solidarity,

Celie

PSC Campaigns Officer