UK teacher ‘targeted and intimidated’ over pro-Palestine campaign

A secondary school teacher says she was left “in a state of shock and distress” after a smear campaign by pro-Israel groups and a formal investigation by her employer over her participation in a pro-Palestine campaign.

Sajia Iqbal, 43, took part in a National Day of Action organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on 5 April 2025, as part of a Redbridge PSC initiative linked to the peaceful Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The protest took place at a Sainsbury’s store in Ilford, where a group of around “eight to ten activists” collected Israeli goods from the shelves and placed them in a trolley alongside a Palestinian flag. They handed a letter to the store manager calling on the supermarket to uphold the boycott by removing Israeli products from sale.

Speaking to MEMO, Iqbal said that no items were removed from the store and no complaint was made to the police. The action was filmed and later shared on social media.

Explaining the broader aim, Iqbal said the protest sought to encourage Sainsbury’s to follow supermarkets such as Co-op, which last year confirmed it would stop sourcing products and services from Israel after reviewing concerns over human rights abuses and violations of international law.

Read: 73% of Co-op members vote to boycott Israeli goods in landmark motion

In 2024 the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s occupation is unlawful and obliged member states not to assist in the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Iqbal stressed that she participated in a personal capacity. “I didn’t represent the school, I represented myself. I wasn’t wearing anything that links me to my employer” she said, adding that she had not committed any criminal offence, and simply exercising her democratic rights.

However, a smear campaign was launched against her during the Easter break. “I was named and shamed,” said Iqbal, expressing surprise at the vitriol of the campaign despite having committed no criminal offence.

Iqbal revealed that she was targeted by pro-Israel groups, including the notorious UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which wrote to her school accusing her of “aggravated trespass” and claiming she was an unsuitable role model who may be spreading pro-Palestine views.

Read: British Museum removes the word ‘Palestine’ from displays following pressure by pro-Israel lawyers

The school launched a formal investigation under Beal High School’s disciplinary procedures. Although she was not found guilty of misconduct, Iqbal was warned that any future Palestine-related action could result in further disciplinary measures.

The controversy was amplified by coverage in right-wing media outlets, including the Jewish Chronicle and GB News, leading to what Iqbal describes as doxxing and attempts to intimidate her.

Describing the ordeal, Iqbal said: “I haven’t committed a criminal offence. Workers like me are being targeted in our place of work, for expressing their solidarity with the Palestinians, by simply wearing a symbol of support.  The idea is to deter and frighten us for advocating for Palestine.”

Iqbal described the impact of the investigation as severe, saying it had taken a significant toll on her mental and physical wellbeing. “What it’s done to me has caused stress and anxiety — a huge mental and physical impact,” she explained. “It’s an attack on my character, portraying me as someone who is not law-abiding.” She added that the process appeared designed not only to undermine her integrity, but also to tarnish her standing as a positive role model for children.

Former student, Leanne Mohamad, expressed solidarity with her former teacher. “Sajia taught me during A-Levels at Beal Sixth Form in Ilford and always encouraged critical thinking, compassion & justice” said Mohamad in X. “Seeing her investigated for principled activism in her own time is deeply concerning. Standing in support & solidarity. Proud to have been taught by someone who stands up for Palestinian human rights”.

Sajia taught me during A-Levels at Beal Sixth Form in Ilford and always encouraged critical thinking, compassion & justice. Seeing her investigated for principled activism in her own time is deeply concerning. Standing in support & solidarity. Proud to have been taught by someone…

— Leanne Mohamad (@LeanneMohamad) February 25, 2026

Iqbal said the campaign against her was part of an attempt “to censor” her and “ruin my career and livelihood”. She is now taking her employer to an employment tribunal, arguing that she was unfairly penalised for exercising her right to protest.

The case comes amid growing evidence of what rights groups describe as a pattern of repression targeting Palestine solidarity activism in Britain.

Read: Lawfare for apartheid: How UK institutions are weaponised to silence solidarity with Palestine

A new report by the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), titled Britain’s Index of Repression, documents 964 verified incidents of anti-Palestinian crackdowns between January 2019 and August 2025. The report identifies arrests, workplace dismissals, suspensions and event cancellations across education, workplaces and protest spaces.

According to the report, students, academics and teachers were the most frequently targeted group, accounting for 336 incidents. Educational institutions were responsible for 192 documented cases, while UKLFI was linked to 128 incidents of institutional repression.

The study describes a recurring pattern beginning with “smear and distortion”, followed by institutional action and, in some cases, legal or professional consequences.

Iqbal’s experience also coincides with the publication of a separate study finding that academics and students in the UK increasingly face censorship for expressing support for Palestinian rights, particularly since October 2023.

Civil liberties advocates warn that such cases risk creating a chilling effect in workplaces and educational institutions, where employees and students may fear professional consequences for lawful political expression.