WORKERS cannot be discriminated against for their anti-zionist beliefs, an employment tribunal ruled in a landmark case of a lecturer who was wrongly dismissed for criticising Israel.

Professor David Miller was sacked in October 2021 after saying the zionist movement was one of five pillars driving Islamophobia in Britain during a lecture at the University of Bristol in 2019.

The tribunal heard that the university received a complaint from the Community Security Trust charity, which said Prof Miller’s lecture was a “false, vile… anti-semitic slur.”

After an investigation of the complaint, no further action was taken against the political sociology researcher.

But further complaints were made to the university about him after he took part in an event called “Building the campaign for free speech” in February 2021, in which he spoke of being publicly criticised for his views on Palestine and Israel.

This led to the launch of disciplinary proceedings that culminated in his dismissal in October 2021 and his launching of employment tribunal claims for unfair dismissal, breach of contract and discrimination or victimisation on grounds of religion or belief.

He successfully claimed discrimination “based on his philosophical belief that zionism is inherently racist, imperialist, and colonial, a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010,” his legal representative Rahman Lowe announced on Monday, adding: “This judgement establishes for the first time ever that anti-zionist beliefs are protected in the workplace.”

Prof Miller said: “I am also very proud that we have managed to establish that anti-zionist views qualify as a protected belief under the UK Equality Act.”

The University of Bristol said it acknowledged the judgement of the tribunal but was disappointed with its findings.