St Andrews rector wins appeal over Gaza 'genocide' claim

The rector of St Andrews University has won her appeal after being removed from her role on the university court over comments she made on the Israel-Gaza war.

Stella Maris sent an email to all students referring to "genocidal attacks" by the Israeli government shortly after she was elected in October 2023.

An investigation found she had "breached her responsibilities" to students, but Ms Maris said it set a "dangerous precedent for freedom of speech".

She appealed against her dismissal as president of the court, and the chancellor of the university - former Liberal Democrats leader Menzies Campbell - has now ruled in her favour.

The university said it was "carefully considering" the chancellor's decision and was taking advice from legal counsel.

Regardless of the legal issues, Ms Maris - a former St Andrews student - will retain the title and office of rector until her term expires in October 2026.

Hundreds of students at the university, which was founded in 1413 and is one of the oldest in the UK, had demanded that she retract her remarks or resign.

At the time, the university said it was "dismayed" by the rector's comments.

However, Ms Maris told BBC Scotland News she would not be resigning and insisted she had done the right thing.

Ms Maris said: "I have received a lot of backlash and it's quite disappointing.

"I really tried to write a statement that would make everyone happy, but realised I wasn't being true to my beliefs.

"I'm glad I did it and it was the right thing to do."

In the message to students sent in October 2023, Ms Maris described how a vigil at the university was held earlier that month "following weeks of genocidal attacks by the Israeli government against Gaza".

She said: "We must continue to recognize and condemn acts that are internationally regarded as humanitarian and war crimes.

"It is also crucial to acknowledge and denounce the actions by Hamas that qualify as war crimes, notably the taking of hostages and deliberately targeting civilians, which I have and continue to do."

The email also included a link to a website which carried a story headlined: "The evidence Israel killed its own citizens on Oct 7."

However, Ms Maris clarified that she sent her email two days before the website had published its article.

Following the chancellor's ruling to back Ms Maris, a University of St Andrews spokesperson said: "As the body that made the decision to dismiss the rector, University Court is carefully considering the chancellor's decision and taking advice from counsel.

"This issue was never about free speech and only ever about governance. Ms Maris remains rector of the University and has done so throughout."