NUS reaches settlement with former president after antisemitism allegations
Shaima Dallali says she was ‘pleased’ to resolve the situation and put the matter behind her.
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Your support makes all the difference.The National Union of Students has reached a settlement with its former president who was sacked after an investigation into allegations of antisemitism.
Shaima Dallali had her contract as the National Union of Students (NUS) president terminated in November 2022 after an independent panel found that “significant breaches of NUS policies have taken place”.
Ms Dallai rejected the findings of a disciplinary panel and began employment tribunal proceedings against the union in March 2023 as she claimed she had been subjected to “discriminatory conduct”.
Throughout this matter, Ms Dallali has suffered truly horrific abuse, which has included death threats, threats of sexual assault and flagrant Islamophobia. This is wholly unacceptable, and NUS categorically condemn it
A joint statement from the NUS and Ms Dallai on Tuesday said a settlement has been reached between the two parties “bringing an end” to the proceedings before the employment tribunal.
The terms of the settlement will “not be disclosed”, the statement said.
Ms Dallali said: “I am pleased that we have been able to resolve matters and that I can put this matter behind me.
“I am an anti-Zionist and a proud pro-Palestinian. Following today’s settlement, I look forward to being able to focus on continuing to dedicate myself to the Palestinian cause and to serving my community.
“I am immensely grateful to those who have supported me during this difficult chapter in my life and I am pleased that all parties can now move on.
“Now more than ever, it is important that all communities come together for peace and justice.”
A joint statement from the NUS and Ms Dallai said: “As has been noted repeatedly in the media, NUS was very concerned by a tweet that was written by Ms Dallali when she was a teenager, before she was even a student, in 2012.
“Ms Dallali has accepted that while it was not her intention, the tweet was antisemitic. Both parties accept that Ms Dallali has repeatedly apologised for that tweet.
“Throughout this matter, Ms Dallali has suffered truly horrific abuse, which has included death threats, threats of sexual assault and flagrant Islamophobia. This is wholly unacceptable, and NUS categorically condemn it.
“Ms Dallali now has the right to move on with her life and her career free from harassment or abuse.”
In May 2022, the NUS commissioned Rebecca Tuck KC to lead an independent investigation into allegations of antisemitism within the union, as well as an investigation into Ms Dallali under the NUS code of conduct.
Michelle Donelan, universities minister at the time, ordered the NUS to be removed from all the Department for Education departmental groups amid concerns about antisemitism in the body.