A University of Bristol professor who was fired in October 2021 has lost his appeal against his termination and now plans to take his case to an employment tribunal.
David Miller's sacking came after a six-month investigation, a disciplinary hearing and two internal investigations following a series of complaints against him, which were made after a 2019 lecture on Islamophobia and statements regarding Jewish students at the university in early 2021. Although the university's internal investigation found his comments did not constitute unlawful speech, the university decided to sack the professor with immediate effect as he "did not meet the standards of behaviour [we] expect from [our] staff."
In February 2021, the University of Bristol Jewish Society (JSoc) released a statement condemning the academic after he, according to them, “criticised Jewish students and the Jewish society” at a public meeting for speaking out against antisemitism, which resulted in the president of the JSoc receiving online abuse. Bristol Students' Union also released a statement of support for the JSoc.
