A Conservative member of the House of Lords has been forced to pay damages and issue a public apology to Melika Gorgianeh, a Muslim woman who faced death threats after appearing on a British quiz show. The Conservative politician, Jacqueline Foster, falsely accused Gorgianeh of anti-Semitism and claimed that she was wearing the colors of the Palestinian flag. These baseless accusations caused significant harm and were completely unfounded.
Gorgianeh, a second-year astrophysics PhD student at Oxford University, appeared on the popular BBC show University Challenge. She wore a multicolored jacket and the team’s mascot was a blue octopus. Foster wrongly interpreted these innocent details as anti-Semitic symbols and called for Gorgianeh to be expelled from her university and arrested by the police. Foster even tagged top politicians and organizations, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the BBC, and the University of Oxford, in her social media posts.
The false allegations made by Foster were picked up by various media outlets and spread like wildfire on social media. Rolling Stone magazine even asked if the cute octopus mascot was an anti-Semitic hate symbol. This irresponsible and baseless speculation only added fuel to the fire. David Atherton, a right-wing commentator and journalist, shamefully accused Gorgianeh of displaying a Nazi symbol, further perpetuating the false narrative.
University Challenge is a beloved show in Britain, and Gorgianeh’s team from Christ Church college emerged victorious in the episode. However, the timing of the broadcast coincided with Israel’s war on Gaza, leading to heightened tensions in the country. Gorgianeh became the target of online abuse and death threats due to Foster’s false accusations.
After filing a complaint against Foster, Gorgianeh’s concerns were initially dismissed by the commissioner of the House of Lords. However, the impact of these baseless accusations on Gorgianeh’s mental health and well-being cannot be understated. She and her family felt unsafe, and the false allegations had a profound negative impact on her life.
Finally, Foster issued an apology on social media, admitting her grave mistake in making those posts. While it is a step in the right direction, the damage caused by such accusations made by a person in a position of power and authority cannot be easily undone. Gorgianeh’s solicitor rightly highlighted that statements made by prominent figures carry far greater weight and have a more significant impact.
It is essential to remember that words have consequences, and false accusations can have severe repercussions on the lives of individuals. This incident serves as a reminder to exercise caution and responsibility in making allegations, particularly when they can have such detrimental effects. The compensation awarded to Gorgianeh remains undisclosed, but it is a small step towards addressing the harm caused by Foster’s baseless claims.
