Controversial academic Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is handed an honorary award for ‘combating discrimination’ by top university just days after sparking backlash by comparing Israel to Nazi Germany
- Lawyer said she was ‘honoured’ to be given the award by Newcastle University
A controversial academic and media favourite has been given an honorary award for her ‘contributions to race equality and combatting discrimination’ by a top British university – just days being criticised for comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
British-Nigerian lawyer Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said she was ‘humbled and honoured’ to have been given the award by Newcastle University which once presented the same degree to Martin Luther King.
The award came just days after Dr Mos-Shogbamimu was described as ‘repugnant’ by one campaign group against antisemitism for her pronouncements on Israel.
Dr Mos-Shogbamimu, a lawyer and a trustee for legal action NGO Reprieve, is no stranger to controversy: in 2020 she was called a ‘race-baiter’ by Piers Morgan after they clashed on Good Morning Britain over Meghan Markle.
And in April she said Markle was right to skip King Charles’s Coronation – calling it ‘an inspiration’ – and while August she sparked a new controversy after saying that killer nurse Lucy Letby had been able to get away with murder because she was a white woman.
British-Nigerian lawyer Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said she was ‘humbled and honoured’ to have been given the award by Newcastle University which once presented the same degree to Martin Luther King . Pictured: At a rally against implementation of pensions age equalisation policy in 2018
The award came just days after Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu was described as ‘repugnant’ by one campaign group against antisemitism for her pronouncements on Israel
The University of Newcastle, a Russell Group institution, said it was standing by its award to her
Her most recent messages about Israel on X – formerly known as Twitter – have caused particular outrage because equating Israel with the Nazis is defined as antisemitism according to an official definition.
Her post about Israel read: ‘Just like Nazi Germany, one day justice will be served on it.’
She later added that she felt criticism for her comments ‘falsely accuse me of antisemitism 4 daring to call out State of Israel’s extermination of 15,000 Palestinians’.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘This post is abhorrent. Comparing Israel to the Nazis and calling, in effect, for the elimination of the Jewish state just as Nazi Germany was eliminated, are antisemitic according to the International Definition of Antisemitism.
‘For a lawyer and academic who purports to believe in equality and inclusion to demonise the Jewish state in such repugnant terms is breathtaking.
‘People like Dr Mos-Shogbamimu were supposed to be allies of the Jewish community and this was their time to stand up for a persecuted minority. Instead, they have betrayed the Jews and exposed themselves.
‘We will be writing to both her university and to her regulator. Her colleagues and her staff and those who rely on legal professionals have the right to expect more from these institutions than Dr Mos Shogbamimu.’
A spokesman for Labour Against Antisemitism added: ‘Weaponising the ultimate Jewish trauma against Jews is highly offensive and antisemitic according to the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which has been adopted worldwide. ‘The University of Newcastle on Tyne has already adopted this definition, making a mockery of the Honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree they awarded to Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu for her contributions to race equality, combating discrimination and promoting diversity.
In April she said Markle was right to skip King Charles’s Coronation – calling it ‘an inspiration’ – and while August she sparked a new controversy after saying that killer nurse Lucy Letby had been able to get away with murder because she was a white woman
The academic has used the analogy of the Holocaust when writing about the conflict on social media. On October 27 she wrote of the Israel/ Hamas war: ‘This is an EXTERMINATION in Gaza. A HOLOCAUST on Palestinians.’ On November 25 she wrote: ‘Israel oppresses with state sanctioned genocide, rape, ethnic cleansing etc’
When MailOnline approached Dr Mos-Shogbamimu for comment she wrote on X: ‘So MailOnline is writing a hit piece to falsely accuse me of antisemitism 4 daring to call out State of Israel’s extermination of 1500 Palestinian. See how they conflate Jewish ppl & invoke ‘Holocaust’. They want my comment: ‘I Stand with Palestine. Do Your Worst.’
Dr Mos-Shogbamimu’s attacks on MailOnline continued during the day as she wrote a tweet using a screenshot of Meghan Markle and said: ‘Meghan Markle living her best life while alleged #RoyalRacists stew in infamy triggers #Daily Fail. Let me sip my [sign for tea].’
Meanwhile The University of Newcastle, a Russell Group institution, said it was standing by its award to her. A spokesperson for the University said: ‘Newcastle University has a proud history of awarding honorary degrees to individuals who champion social justice and Dr Mos-Shogbamimu has been recognised by us for her commitment to race equality and her work promoting diversity and inclusion.’
