Bosnian genocide survivor fired from Luxembourg school over pro-Palestine posts

• Luxembourg teacher Fatima K. was dismissed over pro-Gaza Instagram posts.
• She denies antisemitism accusations and says the decision violates her free speech rights.
• Rights groups warn of growing repression of pro-Palestinian activism in Luxembourg.

A Luxembourg elementary school teacher and Bosnian genocide survivor has been dismissed from her position after the Ministry of National Education ruled that her Instagram posts in support of Gaza constituted "antisemitic expression".

The teacher, identified as Fatima K., rejects the allegation and argues her dismissal violates her right to free expression.

The ministry’s decision was made without notice on October 7, 2025, a date Fatima described as symbolic and deeply unsettling. She said officials relied on screenshots from her personal Instagram account, where she has more than 111,000 followers and regularly shares commentary critical of 'Israel’s' actions in Gaza. According to Fatima, her lawyer reviewed the ministry’s evidence and agreed to take the case, convinced that the accusations lack merit.

Fatima told the media collective déi aner that she had been summoned in August and questioned by the ministry’s legal office over several Instagram stories. She said she received no follow-up for two months and continued teaching as normal until the sudden termination letter arrived. The case became public only after it was amplified last week by Europe Palestine Network.

Her online activity, reviewed on November 27, included commentary from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian voices condemning the war in Gaza as genocide, alongside academic materials from figures like John Dewey and Ilan Pappé. Fatima emphasized that her criticism is directed at the 'Israeli' government and not Jewish communities. She maintains a permanent Instagram highlight explaining the distinction between Zionism and Judaism and frequently shares content from Jewish activists who support Palestinian rights.

“I would never support a monster like Hitler, which every single one of my followers knows,” she said. “I constantly fight to differentiate between Jews and Zionists so that Jews will never have to experience hatred and racism again due to the actions of Israel. I am from Bosnia and know exactly what type of generational trauma genocide can spawn. I am against all genocides, no matter what nation, religion, or people.”

Fatima’s past has shaped her activism. She survived the siege of Srebrenica, lived in destroyed buildings as a child, and grew up with annual searches for missing relatives in mass graves. She said images from Gaza evoke personal memories she cannot ignore. She also stressed that her activism has never entered her classroom and said she has never faced complaints from colleagues.

The case comes as Luxembourg faces growing criticism over the suppression of political expression. déi aner reported that Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel may sue the media collective over a satirical graphic criticizing his stance on Gaza. Activists argue that pressure on pro-Palestinian voices has intensified, pointing to a draft bill known as “Platzverweis,” which would allow police to remove individuals from public spaces and has faced sharp opposition from human rights groups.

According to anonymous sources cited by Amnesty International, at least five people in Luxembourg have lost jobs this year for their advocacy for Palestine.

Fatima says she has endured repeated police complaints and monitoring from the organization RIAL, which lists her in its annual report on antisemitism. None of the examples cited in the report provide clear evidence of antisemitic statements, according to déi aner. Fatima claims the group has monitored her for nearly two years and that the labeling has taken an emotional toll.

“You could see this simply as a politician bruised by satire, but this is not happening in a vacuum,” RTL Today journalist Maura Lehmann wrote, warning that Luxembourg is showing signs of the global trend of shrinking space for dissent.