Mumbai School Principal Parveen Shaikh Sacked For Liking Social Media Posts On Palestine Issue

The management of Somaiya School in Mumbai announced on Tuesday the termination of its principal, Parveen Shaikh, following recent controversy over her social media posts regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, Somaiya Vidyavihar, which runs the school, expressed concern over Shaikh's social media behaviour, stating, “Recently, it has come to our attention that the personal social media activities of Ms Parveen Shaikh, who holds a leadership position at The Somaiya School, have been starkly misaligned with the values we cherish… We strongly support the right to freedom of expression, yet we recognize that it is not absolute and must be exercised with responsibility and respect for others… Given the gravity of concerns, and after careful consideration, the management has discontinued Ms. Parveen Shaikh’s association with Somaiya Vidyavihar to ensure that our ethos of unity and inclusivity is not compromised…”

The statement added, “We believe it is crucial to safeguard the impressionable minds of our youth, and ensure that they are nurtured in an environment that upholds the highest standards of integrity and inclusivity," Indian Express reported.

Shaikh, who had been with Somaiya School for 12 years and served as principal for seven, was earlier asked by the school management to resign following a media report on 24 April.

The media report had highlighted Shaikh's likes and comments via her X handle, on posts that were pro-Palestine and sympathetic to Hamas.

The school management held a meeting with her on 26 April and asked her to resign but Shaikh refused, emphasising her freedom of speech in a democracy, and stating that she has given hundred per cent to the organisation.

The management then sought a written explanation from Shaikh on 4 May.

Reacting to her dismissal, Shaikh expressed shock and disappointment, stating, “I was shocked to know the news of my termination from social media even before receiving it from the management. The termination notice is completely illegal and brd on defamatory lies peddled against me. My work as a school principal has been exceptional and my termination for such reason is wrongful and unjust.”

Shaikh criticized the school's decision as politically motivated and indicated that she is considering legal action to challenge her dismissal.

She continued, “I am disappointed that inspite of my hard work, dedication and sincere contribution to the school’s growth over 12 years, the management chose not to stand by me in the face of this vitriolic public vilification campaign against me, and instead fell prey to it and took this drastic and unwarranted action. This action appears to be politically motivated. I hold firm belief in our legal system and the Indian Constitution and I am currently considering my legal options.”

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