Sheffield Hallam University settles with Shahd Abusalama in press leak case

A Palestinian academic has reached an undisclosed settlement with her former university after she claimed it leaked private details about her departure to politicians and the media.

Sheffield Hallam University has also agreed to cover the legal costs of Shahd Abusalama, who joined the institution in January 2022 but left in October that year amid allegations she made anti-Semitic comments in social media posts.

The university's Jewish society had complained about posts in which Dr. Abusalama, who was born in a refugee camp in Gaza, had debated whether Israel was guilty of a “Palestinian Holocaust,” but an independent review led by the KC cleared her of wrongdoing.

The legal team of Dr. Abusalama accused the university of breaking the confidentiality agreement after an article appeared in The Jewish Chronicle In November, Sheffield Hallam vice-chancellor Richard Calvert confirmed she was “no longer an employee of the university”.

However, the university failed to make it clear that Dr. Abusalama has already been exonerated by the independent review, her lawyers said.

The JC The article claimed that Sheffield Hallam had made contact and “explicitly stated that they wanted to look into it [Dr Abusalama’s] Fall” on the same day it announced it would build a campus “at the heart of north London’s Jewish community” in Brent Cross.

Her legal team further claimed that between August and November 2022, the university sent briefing notes to politicians, including Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, and that the university was “in the pursuit of profit, particularly through the pursuit of profit.” after profit,” motivated by support for its new campus in north London.”

Dr. Abusalama said the deal was a victory for those who want to “challenge Israel's long-standing dominance over the Palestinian people without fear of reprisals from those in positions of power.”

“At a time when I thought I was comfortable parting ways with Sheffield Hallam amicably, I now know that the university suppressed the report that exonerated me,” she said.

“Although the University has failed to verbally admit its wrongdoing, its recent actions speak louder than its lack of words – particularly its agreement to pay my legal fees, which are normally only payable by a losing party.” My case illustrates the multiple Racism and the structural vulnerability that Palestinians in Britain face on a daily basis. But it also shows that we can win if we organize together and fight back.”

A spokesman for Sheffield Hallam University said: “We can confirm that the university has reached an amicable agreement with a former employee. Given the nature of the agreement, we now consider this matter closed and will have no further comment.”

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