Royal Holloway Student Sues University Over ‘Tea Towel’ Remark and Suspension
A student at Royal Holloway, University of London, is pursuing legal action against the institution after being suspended for what he claims was an unfair disciplinary response to a comment made during a heated campus debate over the Gaza conflict. The case has ignited a debate surrounding free speech on university campuses and the appropriate response to potentially offensive remarks.
The Incident and Suspension
Brodie Mitchell, a 20-year-classic second-year politics and international relations student, found himself at the center of a controversy following an exchange with Huda El-Jamal, the president of the Friends of Palestine Society, at the university’s Freshers’ Fair in September 2025. According to Mitchell, El-Jamal referred to him as a “wannabe Jew” and questioned why he wasn’t wearing a Jewish yarmulke or kippah [1].
Mitchell responded by telling El-Jamal that her keffiyeh scarf – a traditional Palestinian headdress – looked like a “tea towel.” He maintains that this was a retort to what he perceived as a racist and antisemitic attack [2]. Following the incident, Mitchell was suspended from the university for nine weeks although an investigation was conducted into alleged hate speech [3].
Legal Challenge and Costs
Mitchell is arguing that the university acted unlawfully and subjected him to unfair disciplinary measures. He claims the suspension disrupted his studies and will delay his graduation. He is being supported in his legal fight by the Free Speech Union (FSU) [1].
The university initially estimated its legal defense would cost £734,000, but a Costs Management Order significantly reduced this figure to £226,000 [2]. Mitchell’s barrister, Francis Hoar, described the initial cost estimate as “grossly disproportionate and unreasonable.”
University’s Defense and Free Speech Debate
Royal Holloway defends its procedures, stating that it was obligated to investigate a formal complaint from a student who felt targeted by a discriminatory and distressing comment, which was also reported to the police as a hate crime. The university asserts that it has not received a formal complaint regarding El-Jamal’s behavior towards Mitchell, but would investigate any such allegation [4].
The case comes amid broader discussions about free speech on university campuses and the definition of anti-Muslim hostility, with concerns that such definitions could be used to stifle legitimate criticism [2].
Background on Brodie Mitchell
Mitchell, who is not Jewish but identifies as a Zionist, is involved in the campus Conservative Association and the Free Speech Union [1]. He has previously reported experiencing abuse on campus for his support of Israel, including being called a “genocide supporter.”
Trial and Next Steps
A three-day trial is scheduled to accept place at the High Court in June. Mitchell will argue that the disciplinary action taken against him resulted in the loss of seven weeks of teaching time and will delay his graduation. The Office for Students has a formal complaint lodged by the FSU regarding Royal Holloway’s handling of free speech issues, but has stated it cannot comment ahead of the legal proceedings [4].