UK school fires DEI head over posts praising Hamas ‘heroes’ after Oct. 7

A school in southwest England has dismissed its head of equality, diversity and inclusion due to social media posts praising Hamas terrorists as “heroes” and “resistance fighters” shortly after the October 7, 2023, attack, according to local media.

The Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), which oversees Bristol Brunel Academy in Bristol, fired Saima Akhtar today after an investigation found that Akhtar wrote a series of inflammatory posts following the attack.

In one post, Akhtar wrote that Palestinians were “heroes fighting for justice,” and urged others to ignore what she called attempts to portray Israel as a victim. She also accused Western governments and media of enabling “ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

Employees of CLF are expected to promote inclusion and reject discrimination as core values “both inside and outside of school,” a spokesperson says, without commenting on the individual case.

Sacked!

The Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Bristol school that cancelled a visit from a Jewish Labour MP has reportedly lost her job.

Saima Akhtar held the role at Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), a multi-academy trust which runs Bristol Brunel Academy. The school…

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Bristol Brunel Academy sparked controversy last year when it cancelled a planned appearance by Jewish member of parliament Damien Egan after teachers organized a protest over his support for Israel.