The rector of St Andrews University, Stella Maris, was dismissed from her roles as the President of Court and Charity Trustee, at the institution’s governing body, after she called for an end to Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people and its imposition of a system of apartheid against them.
This decision shows a lack of respect for the role of the rector in speaking independently for students as their elected representative and sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech in higher education.
What happened?
In November 2023, Maris sent an email to all St Andrews students calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and described Israel’s attacks as “genocidal”, condemning practices such as “apartheid, siege, illegal occupation and collective punishment.
The views articulated by the Rector align with the interim ruling of the world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), deeming plausible the case that Israel is committing genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In July 2024, the ICJ 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.
Following this, the University commissioned a KC investigation into her email. Despite the fact the KC’s report is politically partial and has findings that rely on the use of common racist and discriminatory tropes that are used against Palestinians, it concludes that it would be ‘disproportionate’ to dismiss the Rector from the Court and her trustee position- the University still removed her from her positions—without justification.
As Stella stated, “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 apologise for doing so. 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.”
Alongside over 500 academics, Maris was also backed by Prof Ghassan Abu-Sittah, the rector of the University of Glasgow and a surgeon who provided testimony on Israel’s war in Gaza after operating during the conflict, who said in August 2024:
“The silencing of pro-Palestinian or anti-genocide voices is the reason why this genocide is still going on after 10 months.”
With the support of the European Legal Support Center, Maris appealed this decision to the Chancellor of the University on 13 August 2024. A decision is still awaited.
If the Chancellor ultimately upholds the University’s decision, further legal action such as judicial review or other steps may be necessary.
Winning this case is very critical for preserving the historic role of Rector in a university and for preserving the university as a place of critical expression and debate freed from repression.
“The idea that Palestinian human rights and the war crimes of Israel in Gaza cannot be discussed in higher education is deeply concerning,” said Maris.
The Rector is elected by the students to be an independent voice for the students. That is what she has done, and what she will continue to do.
How can you help?
We foresee costs of this appeal to go up to GBP 18,000 to cover legal and court fees, amongst other potential costs associated with seeing this case through.
Please consider contributing to this important cause. Any amount, big or small, can help support the defendant, and on a larger scale, ensure that the right to free speech and defending human rights remain upheld and protected at our universities.
Any funds left over after covering the legal expenses will be dedicated to other ongoing cases of state repression against Palestinian advocacy in the UK.
You can also support by sharing this page on your social media channels and within your personal networks.
It's time for us to stand in solidarity and take action!
Why Your Support Matters:
Across the UK, scholars, students, and student organisations who bravely spoke out in support of Palestinian liberation or raised their voices against Israel's actions in Gaza, have faced a barrage of vilification in the media and online threats. Shockingly, an increasing number of individuals are now confronting very serious disciplinary and legal actions, including visa refusals, revocations, and counter-terrorism charges. This crackdown disproportionately affects the most marginalised members of our community, including Palestinian, Muslim, and women of colour scholars and students.
This alarming trend is exacerbated by recent announcements from UK government officials that further restrict freedom of expression and the right to protest – which should be cornerstones of university life. The chilling effect is undeniable, and it builds upon the existing Prevent strategy, which disproportionately targets communities of colour, especially Muslims, while stifling progressive dissent.
We need to act in solidarity, united against state repression of free expression!