Religious Studies Teacher Suspended and Reported for Pro-Hamas Social Media Posts

A religious studies teacher at Ursuline High School in Wimbledon, Ronan Preastuin, found himself in hot water after making controversial social media posts in support of Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK. The teacher's posts, which included statements like Hamas having "committed no crime" and calling for "Glory to Hamas," sparked outrage and led to his suspension and police involvement.

UK Lawyers for Israel raised concerns about Mr. Preastuin's role as a religious education teacher and a Year 9 tutor, stating that his open support for a terrorist group could be a dangerous influence on the students at Ursuline High School. The head teacher, Eoin Kelly, confirmed that Mr. Preastuin had been suspended, reported to the police, and that an internal investigation had been opened at the school. Following the disclosure of the teacher's social media posts, the police began investigating the matter, emphasizing that it was a legal process and refraining from further comments until the investigations were concluded. The teacher's controversial posts, including one where he justified an attack as a "justified act of resistance," were exposed by a website on April 23, 2024, leading Mr. Preastuin to delete his social media account.