A UK Cabinet minister accused a professor of sympathizing with Hamas, but now she's apologizing

Source: Associated Press

A UK Cabinet minister accused a professor of sympathizing with Hamas, but now she’s apologizing

Updated 10:20 AM EST, March 6, 2024

LONDON (AP) — British taxpayers have been left footing the bill after a Cabinet minister apologized and paid damages to an academic she had accused of expressing sympathy for Hamas.

Science Secretary Michelle Donelan acknowledged there was “no evidence” that Kate Sang, a professor of gender and employment studies at Heriot-Watt University, supported Hamas, which is outlawed as a terrorist group in Britain.

“I fully accept that she is not an extremist, a supporter of Hamas or any other proscribed organization and I note that an independent investigation has concluded that there is no evidence that she is. I have deleted my original post to my X account,” Donelan said Tuesday.

Donelan paid an undisclosed sum in damages, which came from public funds.

Donelan complained to public body U.K. Research and Innovation in October after Sang tweeted “this is disturbing,” linking to a Guardian newspaper newspaper about the government urging police to crack down on pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the Hamas attack on Israel. Sang is a member of UKRI’s advisory group on equality, diversity and inclusion.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/uk-science-minister-academic-libel-case-donelan-fd66c093bf98e672750bd95c17d03889