A Muslim woman who received death threats after appearing on a popular British quiz show has won “significant damages” and received a public apology from the Conservative politician she falsely accused of anti-Semitism. Her lawyer made the announcement Wednesday.
Melica Gorgiane, a second-year astrophysics PhD student at the University of Oxford in Christchurch, appeared on the BBC program “University Challenge'' on November 20th.
The shoot took place a few months ago in March.
The team's mascot was a stuffed blue octopus, and Gorgiane wore a multicolored jacket of navy blue, orange, pink and green.
Jacqueline Foster, a member of the House of Lords and holder of the title Baroness, complained to X after the show aired that Gorjane was wearing the colors of the Palestinian flag and was responsible for the mascot.
Neither observation was true. The colors of the Palestinian flag are black, white, green, and red. The mascots were part of a four-person team.
Foster described the octopus as one of the most “abhorrent symbols of anti-Semitism” and called for Gorgiane to be “expelled” from the university and for police to “arrest” him.
She also tagged top politicians, including chancellor Rishi Sunak, as well as national communications regulator Ofcom, the BBC and Oxford University.
This story was covered by many media outlets and became a hot topic on social media.
“Is This Cute Child a Symbol of Anti-Semitic Hatred?” Rolling Stone magazine asked about the octopus in a headline.
Right-wing commentator and journalist David Atherton posted on X: “Does Merica Gorgiane think it is appropriate to display a blue octopus, a blatant anti-Semitic metaphor used by the Nazis to show how the Jewish tentacles are spread all around? “world? …Shame on Christchurch, shame on Oxford University. ”
The University Challenge is loved by Brits. The show began in 1962, when college students compete to answer difficult questions posed by a relentless host. Teams are encouraged to bring their mascots.
In the end, Christchurch University, led by Mr Gorgiane, was able to overcome the situation, scoring 155 points and winning against rivals Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, who scored 130 points.
The episode aired a few weeks after Israel's war on Gaza began, at a time of heightened communal tensions in the UK.
More than 30,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed so far in the Hamas-controlled Strip. Israel launched a military operation after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,139 people.
Israel has said it wants to crush the Palestinian group, but international human rights groups and several world leaders are concerned about the unprecedented toll on Palestinian civilians and the unfolding humanitarian disaster.
In late November, Gorgiane lodged a complaint with the Lord Chancellor about Foster's conduct, but was unsuccessful.
“False allegations of anti-Semitism had a deep and profound negative impact on my life. I was a student on my favorite TV quiz show. As a result of this incident, I received death threats and my mental state deteriorated,'' Gorgiane said.
“Baroness Foster's posts, and those of others who have not yet been held accountable, have affected both me and my family. I felt unsafe even leaving my home. I felt unsafe for anyone. No one should ever have to go through how I felt or what I went through. Words have consequences. And now, through her apology, Baroness Foster's words can be used to explain the true harm done to me. It's starting to bring healing results.”
Foster posted a lengthy apology to X on Wednesday, saying it was a “serious mistake to post this and I should never have done it.”
Gorjane's lawyer, Zirul Rahman, said statements made by someone in a position of power, authority and respect “carry far more weight and can have a far greater impact than those made by someone less prominent.” There is,” he said.
“Baroness Foster holds a DBE and, as a lifelong peer, is literally part of the ruling class of British society,” he said.
Mr. Rahman's company, Rahman Law, did not disclose the total amount of compensation given to Mr. Gorjane.
