The management of a prestigious school in Mumbai is facing allegations of pressuring its principal to resign, reportedly due to her activity on social media concerning the issue of Palestine and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel.
According to a report from PTI, the aide of Parveen Shaikh, the principal of Somaiya School in the Vidyavihar area, revealed that Shaikh was summoned by the school management on April 26 for a formal meeting where she was asked to step down over her social media interactions.
During the meeting, the school management reportedly expressed disapproval of Shaikh's comments and likes on a social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, regarding the Hamas-Israel conflict and other related matters. Despite the pressure to resign, Shaikh refused to step down. However, she faced continued pressure from the management over the following two days.
Shaikh, when approached for comment, declined to provide any statement on the matter. The situation gained attention after a web portal published a report highlighting Shaikh's online activity, which was perceived as supportive of Palestine and sympathetic towards Hamas.
Shaikh's aide emphasized her exemplary work and urged the management to consider the school's achievements under her leadership, including receiving multiple awards for academic excellence. Shaikh has been associated with the school for 12 years and has served as the principal for the past seven years.
A spokesperson for the school management stated that the matter is still under investigation, and updates will be shared once available. The incident has sparked discussions regarding freedom of expression and the boundaries of personal opinions in professional settings.