Student suspended for ‘tea towel hate speech’ compensated by uni | UK | News
A student who was suspended for hate speech after comparing a pro-Palestinian activist’s keffiyeh headscarf to a tea towel was compensated by her university. Brodie Mitchell, 20, took legal action against Royal Holloway, University of London (RHUL) after it temporarily suspended him from teaching.
Following Mr Mitchell’s ban from teaching, a group of MPs and Lords wrote to the university expressing concern at the decision to penalize students for “sharing views on controversial issues”. The letter from MPs, including Sir John Whittingdale and Tom Tugendhat, described the response as “wholly disproportionate” and “evidence of a failure to use common sense”.
RHUL agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Mr Mitchell as a “gesture of good faith” after the two parties settled out of court, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
The Telegraph reported RHUL expressed regret at Mr Mitchell’s “lengthy” suspension and “the distress caused to him as a result”. Express.co.uk has approached RHUL for comment.
Mr Mitchell describes himself as a non-Jewish Zionist, according to the Telegraph. He was allegedly called a “wannabe Jew” when he was involved in a shootout in September.
When asked why she was not wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish headscarf, she is said to have told Huda Al-Jamal, president of the Friends of Palestine Association, that she was “wearing a tea towel on her head.”
The headscarf worn by Ms. Al-Jamal, who is of Palestinian origin, was identified as a keffiyeh, the scarf-like garment made famous by the famous Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
A nine-week Royal Holloway investigation was launched into Mr Mitchell over “alleged conduct that may constitute hate speech”.
Mr Mitchell and RHUL issued an agreed statement on Friday confirming the dispute had been resolved without accepting liability.
The terms of the agreement will allow Mr Mitchell to “participate in his studies and other activities within the university”, the university said.
Mr Mitchell still faces possible prosecution for hate speech and police have handed over a file to the Crown Prosecution Service.
