A SCOTTISH university rector has won her appeal against a decision to remove her from the governing body after she called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Stella Maris lost her formal powers in the governing body last year following a backlash over comments she made in 2023, where she claimed that Palestinians had been subjected to “practices such as apartheid, siege (and) illegal occupation”.
The institution's bosses decided to keep in place her removal from the governing body and her role as a trustee despite independent investigation led by Morag Ross KC concluding that removing Maris from her roles at St Andrews University was “disproportionate".
Speaking after the ruling, Maris said: “This decision is not only a vindication of my position but a defence of the fundamental principles of free expression and democratic accountability within our universities.
“Universities must remain places where individuals are free to speak out against injustice, especially where that speech is grounded in humanitarian concern and moral conscience in line with the principles of international human rights.
“I am grateful to the many students, academics, and members of the public who stood in solidarity with me over the past months. I intend to continue campaigning to ensure the right to political expression and academic freedom.”
Maris gained support from students on campus, more than 500 academics from universities across 17 countries, the BRISMES Committee on Academic Freedom, and the University College Union (UCU) – all calling for her reinstatement.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “This is an important victory for all students and academic staff. From Trump in the US to repressive actions by some universities in Britain, it shows that those seeking to silence support for Palestinian human rights will not succeed.
“PSC has proudly supported Rector Stella Maris in her fight against attempts to undermine freedom of expression and academic freedom, both of which should be cornerstones of university life.
“The University of St Andrews and other universities should be speaking up for international law and human rights, not trying to shield Israel from accountability for its escalating genocidal violence against Palestinians.”
Tasnima Uddin, from the European Legal Support Center, said: “This victory is a clear rebuke to the growing pattern of repression facing those who speak out for Palestinian freedom.
“For 570 days, Israel has carried out a genocide in Gaza, targeting universities, hospitals, and civilians, yet St Andrews chose to punish its Rector for calling for a ceasefire.
“This case shows the disturbing pattern of Zionist lobby groups' use of legal threats, coordinated smear campaigns, and institutional pressure to dox and intimidate Palestine solidarity in academia, but also show the cowardice of universities to stand up against those pressures and protect the fundamental rights of their staff and students.
“The reinstatement of Stella Maris proves that the attempt to quash this mass movement will not succeed and legal means will continue to be used to challenge censorship, defend fundamental rights, and expose the complicity in Israeli apartheid and settler-colonial violence.”
A St Andrews University spokesperson said: “As the body that made the decision to dismiss the rector, University Court is carefully considering the Chancellor’s decision and taking advice from counsel.
“This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance. Ms Maris remains rector of the university and has done so throughout.”
