Miller says Bristol Uni has ’embarrassed itself’ and will challenge decision to fire him

David Miller has launched an explosive attack on Bristol University saying it has “embarrassed itself and the entire British academic sector” following his sacking earlier today.

Miller has questioned the impartiality of the investigation labelling it “shambolic”. He also accused the university of “capitulating to a pressure campaign against me overseen and directed by a hostile foreign government”.

David Miller will challenge Bristol Uni’s decision to fire him, stressing that he would take it to an Employment Tribunal if necessary.

In a final attack on the university, he said: “The University of Bristol is no longer safe for Muslim, Arab or Palestinian students”.

Miller has been under investigation following comments he made in an online conference in February

Professor Miller was sacked earlier today following the conclusion of a 200-day investigation. The university opened their investigation in March after comments he made at an online conference in February where he called for “an end to Zionism”.

He has also said that Zionism is “fundamental” to “encourage Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism” and that the “Zionist Movement” is the “the enemy”.

The Support David Miller Campaign said the university has “succumbed to a longstanding pro-Israel pressure campaign targeted at Professor David Miller, based on his important scholarship on Islamophobia”.

The Campaign also labelled current and former Bristol Uni students as being part of the “pro-Israel campaign” the university has “succumbed to”. They label Bristol JSoc President, Edward Isaacs and UJS President, Nina Freedman as “pro-Israel student actors” as well as former Tab writers, Ben Bloch and Sabrina Miller.

The Support David Miller Campaign also claim Bristol Uni took “all its positions in relation to Israel and Zionism from these pro-Israel groups and actors”.

They went on to say: “Bristol [University] refused to meet with a number of Muslims and people of colour, as well as our Support David Miller campaign group, instead taking evidence largely from white pro-Israel Jews.

“This episode, which has targeted a committed anti-racist academic, will go down as one of deep shame in British academic history.”

David Miller said: “The University of Bristol has embarrassed itself and the entire British academic sector by capitulating to a pressure campaign against me overseen and directed by a hostile foreign government. It has run a shambolic process that seems to have been vetted by external actors.

“Israel’s assets in the UK have been emboldened by the University collaborating with them to shut down teaching about Islamophobia. The University of Bristol is no longer safe for Muslim, Arab or Palestinian students.

“I stand by my evidence-based comments and I will be challenging this decision, all the way to an Employment Tribunal if necessary.”

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