Rector removed from 2 positions at Scottish university St Andrews over email accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza

LONDON: A rector at the University of St Andrews in Scotland has criticized a decision to remove her from two roles at the institution over an email she sent in which she accused Israel of genocide.

Stella Maris was removed from the university’s governing body and as a trustee following the email, which was sent to all students in November and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

In the email she also accused Israel of practicing “apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment” against Palestinians.

She also acknowledged and denounced Hamas’ “war crimes,” which she said included “the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians.”

The university, in a statement issued on Thursday, said: “The Court of the University of St Andrews has informed the university rector Ms Stella Maris that she is to be discharged from the role of president of court and as a charity trustee.

“The court’s determination was made after the rector repeatedly declined to accept the conclusion of an independent investigation which found that she had made some St Andrews students ‘fear for their safety,’ and by her actions and activities breached her responsibilities and legal obligations as a court member and charity trustee.”

It added that it had “no choice but to discharge” Maris from the positions, but that she would retain her post as rector until her term finished in October 2026.

The statement also said: “(The) court wishes to stress that this decision has no bearing on Ms Maris’ freedom of speech, to which she is entitled and for which, like everyone else, she is personally accountable. We recognize that parts of the rector’s statement were an important source of comfort to students affected by the conflict in Gaza.”

Maris said she was disappointed by the decision, which she claimed showed a “lack of respect” for the rector’s role in speaking up for students and set a “dangerous precedent for freedom of speech” in British higher education, The Guardian newspaper reported.

“It is clear that I have been removed from university court because I called for an end to Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians, and I will not apologize for doing so,” Maris said.

“As a young, neurodiverse Black woman with limited financial resources, I have faced the full force of the university, including a KC investigation, all because I made a statement supported by the overwhelming majority of students, calling for an end to a genocide.”