The 120-page ruling favored David Miller, a professor fired by the University of Bristol over his alleged "antisemitic remarks." Miller took his former employer to court, accusing it of unfair discrimination.
"Although many would vehemently and cogently disagree with [Miller's] analysis of politics and history, others have the same or similar beliefs. We find that he has established that [the criteria has] been met and that his belief amounted to a philosophical belief," employment judge Rohan Pirani wrote.
"[His view is] not incompatible with human dignity and not [in] conflict with the fundamental rights of others. What [Miller] said was accepted as lawful, was not antisemitic, did not incite violence and did not pose any threat to any person's health or safety."
According to the Middle East Eye, the ruling stresses "why Miller's beliefs warranted protection under anti-discrimination laws." It also serves as a landmark decision that could strengthen freedom of speech in the workplace.
However, the ruling did not sit well with the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), with the organization condemning the decision as a "dangerous precedent." The UJS is a national body representing both Jewish students and Jewish societies in British universities.
"UJS believes this may set a dangerous precedent about what can be lawfully said on campus about Jewish students and the societies at the center of their social life. This will ultimately make Jewish students less safe," it said. (Related: Jewish students endangered not because of anti-Israel protests, but because of police involvement and third-party doxing of participants.)
Opposing Zionism isn't racist or antisemitic
Miller, who was a political sociology lecturer at the university, was dismissed in 2021 after accusing Israel of wanting to "impose [its] will all over the world." While the university ruled that his comments "did not constitute unlawful speech" at the time, a disciplinary hearing found that they "did not meet the standards of behavior we expect from our staff."
The professor then launched employment tribunal proceedings following his dismissal. He accused the university of unfair dismissal, breach of contract and discrimination or victimization on grounds of religion or belief. The tribunal ultimately sided with Miller in February, and published its full decision this month.
During his hearing, Miller told the magistrates he thought Zionism was "inherently racist, imperialist and colonial." Anti-Zionism was not the same as antisemitism and was not a "racist set of ideas," he reiterated. Miller remarked that it was impossible for a Zionist state such as Israel to be non-racist, and described Gaza as an "open air prison."
The tribunal's judgment noted that Miller had expertise on the subject of Zionism, with Pirani noting that this knowledge had "played a significant role in his life for many years."
"[Miller's] opposition to Zionism is not opposition to the idea of Jewish self-determination or of a preponderantly Jewish state existing in the world, but rather, as he defines it, to the exclusive realization of Jewish rights to self-determination within a land that is home to a very substantial non-Jewish population."
Zillur Rahman, Miller's legal counsel, called the ruling a "landmark case" which "marks a pivotal moment in the history of our country for those who believe in upholding the rights of Palestinians."
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Watch this video about why the Zionist narrative is over because no one will defend Israel's apartheid and genocidal regime.
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