School that blocked Jewish MP sacks diversity leader over ‘heroes’ Hamas remarks

Susanna Siddell
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:51:57 +0000

A Bristolian school, which blocked a visit from a Jewish MP, has sacked its diversity leader after she hailed Hamas as "heroes".

Saima Akhtar, who was the diversity co-ordinator for Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), a trust which runs the school, branded the terrorists as "heroes fighting for justice" in the wake of the October 7 attacks.

Bristol Brunel Academy first came under fire last September after it postponed a visit from the constituency's representative, Damien Egan.

The education institution put off the planned drop-in from the Jewish MP after pro-Palestine protesters and union members threatened to rally against the visit.

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The activists cited what they described as "safeguarding concerns" and stressed the MP's role as vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel.

The now-unemployed Ms Akhtar also sat on the academy council for the school, a board which scrutinises the institution's academic quality, pupils' safeguarding and the overall wellbeing of staff.

But, in a string of damning social media posts, Ms Akhtar was revealed to have told individuals to turn a blind-eye to "media attempts to paint Israel as a victim" the day after Hamas murdered more than 1,200 men, women and children in the massacre.

CLF subsequently launched an investigation into the employee after The Times pinpointed the offending online declarations.

On October 7, the woman posted a quote from Nelson Mandela online which read: "We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians."

She went on to declare that Palestine was "fight against an apartheid" and accused Israel of being "oppressors".

The shocking post said: "This is an oppressed people standing up and fighting back. Just imagine if this was Ukraine attacking Russia?

"Heroes fighting for justice and their right to exist. Palestinians are no different. #FreePalestine."

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Nine days on, the woman turned her ire on the West and mainstream media, who, she said, were the "real problem".

"They're liable for ethnic cleansing and genocide because of their unprecedented support of Israel," the exposing post read.

Since the massacre, Ms Akhtar frequently posted about going to pro-Palestine marches in Bristol, with the caption: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Such a chant is frequently deployed by pro-Hamas activists in marches up and down the UK.

However, Ms Akhtar's LinkedIn painted a far more inclusive image of her outlook, where she said she had an "intersectional, trauma-informed, and unapologetically anti-racist" approach to her work.

She stressed her desire to "challenge practices and create inclusive, affirming environments where every individual - regardless of race, faith , gender identity, or background - can thrive".

She also used the social media platform to stress her commitment "to trans rights, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and global solidarity, including support for Palestinian human rights".

The CLF told The Times: "We will not comment on cases involving individual members of staff. Nevertheless, we are clear about our expectations on staff conduct.

"The promotion of inclusion and rejection of discrimination are enshrined in the CLF’s core values, and all of our staff are expected to embody these values in their behaviour — both inside and outside of school."