Leading University Faces Discrimination Lawsuit Following Sacking Over 'Gaza Genocide' Statement
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The Rector of an elite Scottish university is bringing a discrimination claim against the 600 year old institution, amid claims she was unfairly removed for condemning genocide in Gaza in an email to students.
Shortly after her election as Rector of St Andrews, and amid Israel's bombing of Gaza, Maris sent a message to all St Andrews students, calling for a ceasefire in November 2023.
After a disclaimer noting she spoke only as an elected representative, not for the university as a whole, she went on to denounce both the Israeli government's 'genocidal attacks' on Gaza and Hamas' targeting of civilians and taking of hostages. She spoke of 'apartheid' in Palestine and of war crimes.
Following a paragraph condemning Hamas' terrorist attacks on October 7th she added: "It's essential to acknowledge the reasons behind these actions, understanding that they are rooted in decades of oppression and systematic mistreatment. This historical context is crucial."
The message triggered a raft of supportive and opposing petitions and activism on campus, with the Amnesty International society backing her and the Jewish students' society condemning her.
The university's senior leadership team said some students were "deeply offended and concerned" by her email, and that some Jewish students felt unsafe.
In a statement, the management figures added: "The language it used, and some of the sources it cited [e.g. Electronic Intifada] have caused alarm, division and harm in our community, and more widely…As individuals and as a group of senior leaders, asked her to reflect seriously on the evidence of the upset and fear she has caused."
Maris stood by her message and hit back at all suggestions of anti-Semitism.
Fired and Rehired
The KC, Morag Ross, found in her July report that Maris had shown "poor judgement" and reputational damage to the university, but that dismissal would be a "disproportionate response".
"The Statement was a single issue. It contained a disclaimer. Division in the University was not entirely due to the Statement. Dismissal would interfere with Ms Maris' rights to freedom of expression in an unjustified way," Ross KC said.
But on 1 August 2024, the University Court announced it would dismiss Maris and remove her as a trustee of the university. The governing body alleged that she had refused to accept the findings of the independent investigation (something Maris denies), engage constructively with management in response to the backlash, or take part in mediation.
The university's principal, Sally Mapstone, also claimed that her message had jeopardised a £2m donation from the Wolfson Foundation. However, the Foundation later denied that the donation was ever at risk.
Maris appealed her dismissal, and was successful in April 2025. The following month, she was reinstated as St Andrews University Rector.
The university denies that she was sacked for speaking out on Gaza, and instead argues her removal related to her conduct after her statement to 10,000 members of the institution.
But the St Andrews Rector is seeking a formal apology and damages from the university, alleging that she faced a breach of her right to free expression under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.
She is also alleging she faced direct discrimination on the basis of a protected belief, contrary to section 13 of the Equality Act 2010, and indirect discrimination on the basis of disability under the same act.
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'Stifling Free Speech'
Maris, who is 26, told Byline Times: "When I became Rector, I made it pretty clear that I wanted to release a statement about Gaza. There was significant pushback, and I did try to engage senior leadership to get their feedback on what I was going to say.
"I consulted with the Jewish Society a...
Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
The Rector of an elite Scottish university is bringing a discrimination claim against the 600 year old institution, amid claims she was unfairly removed for condemning genocide in Gaza in an email to students.
Shortly after her election as Rector of St Andrews, and amid Israel's bombing of Gaza, Maris sent a message to all St Andrews students, calling for a ceasefire in November 2023.
After a disclaimer noting she spoke only as an elected representative, not for the university as a whole, she went on to denounce both the Israeli government's 'genocidal attacks' on Gaza and Hamas' targeting of civilians and taking of hostages. She spoke of 'apartheid' in Palestine and of war crimes.
Following a paragraph condemning Hamas' terrorist attacks on October 7th she added: "It's essential to acknowledge the reasons behind these actions, understanding that they are rooted in decades of oppression and systematic mistreatment. This historical context is crucial."
The message triggered a raft of supportive and opposing petitions and activism on campus, with the Amnesty International society backing her and the Jewish students' society condemning her.
The university's senior leadership team said some students were "deeply offended and concerned" by her email, and that some Jewish students felt unsafe.
In a statement, the management figures added: "The language it used, and some of the sources it cited [e.g. Electronic Intifada] have caused alarm, division and harm in our community, and more widely…As individuals and as a group of senior leaders, asked her to reflect seriously on the evidence of the upset and fear she has caused."
Maris stood by her message and hit back at all suggestions of anti-Semitism.
Fired and Rehired
The KC, Morag Ross, found in her July report that Maris had shown "poor judgement" and reputational damage to the university, but that dismissal would be a "disproportionate response".
"The Statement was a single issue. It contained a disclaimer. Division in the University was not entirely due to the Statement. Dismissal would interfere with Ms Maris' rights to freedom of expression in an unjustified way," Ross KC said.
But on 1 August 2024, the University Court announced it would dismiss Maris and remove her as a trustee of the university. The governing body alleged that she had refused to accept the findings of the independent investigation (something Maris denies), engage constructively with management in response to the backlash, or take part in mediation.
The university's principal, Sally Mapstone, also claimed that her message had jeopardised a £2m donation from the Wolfson Foundation. However, the Foundation later denied that the donation was ever at risk.
Maris appealed her dismissal, and was successful in April 2025. The following month, she was reinstated as St Andrews University Rector.
The university denies that she was sacked for speaking out on Gaza, and instead argues her removal related to her conduct after her statement to 10,000 members of the institution.
But the St Andrews Rector is seeking a formal apology and damages from the university, alleging that she faced a breach of her right to free expression under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.
She is also alleging she faced direct discrimination on the basis of a protected belief, contrary to section 13 of the Equality Act 2010, and indirect discrimination on the basis of disability under the same act.
Don't miss a story
SIGN UP TO EMAIL UPDATES
'Stifling Free Speech'
Maris, who is 26, told Byline Times: "When I became Rector, I made it pretty clear that I wanted to release a statement about Gaza. There was significant pushback, and I did try to engage senior leadership to get their feedback on what I was going to say.
"I consulted with the Jewish Society a...
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