Ibrahim Khadra
Introduction
Dr Ibrahim Khadra was a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow until he was dismissed in 2026 following an internal investigation into sexual-harassment complaints made by female students. The allegations were first reported by the Glasgow Live news website and were subsequently covered by BBC News and the Glasgow Times, and Police Scotland has confirmed an inquiry into a report of an “inappropriate communication” is ongoing. Khadra has not been charged with any offence, and no public statement from him on the allegations appears in the published reporting. His dismissal ended a career spent almost entirely at Strathclyde, where he had studied, researched and taught for roughly two decades and had risen to full professor only in December 2024.
Background Information
Khadra’s academic life was rooted at Strathclyde. He was a PhD student there between 2002 and 2006, returned as a research associate in 2010, became a lecturer in 2016, an associate professor in 2020, and was appointed professor in December 2024. He also served as the university’s advisor on engagement with the Middle East and North Africa.
He is Palestinian and originally from Palestine. In 2023 he publicly stated to STV that he had lost more than 70 family members in the war in Gaza, a figure the BBC’s report put at more than 40. That year he spoke at a rally in Glasgow city centre attended by thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters, and in 2025 the university’s student newspaper reported he was among students and staff calling on Strathclyde to do more to support Palestine amid a dispute over its ties with arms manufacturers.
The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation
Allegations. The claims in this section are allegations from students interviewed by Glasgow Live and from the complaints that triggered the University of Strathclyde’s internal investigation, which ended in Khadra’s dismissal. They were never admitted by Khadra, never criminally charged, and never adjudicated in court. No public statement from Khadra denying them is recorded in these sources; the police inquiry into an ‘inappropriate communication’ remains ongoing and he is presumed innocent.
According to BBC News, students accused Khadra of sexual harassment and said he had requested intimate images and harassed them via text messages and phone calls. Those allegations were first reported by Glasgow Live, whose reporting was cited by the BBC. The Glasgow Times reported that Khadra, who taught pharmaceutical science at Strathclyde, was sacked following an internal investigation into complaints made by female students.
The university’s response moved quickly once the complaints emerged. A spokesperson said: “The university suspended the staff member as soon as we became aware of the allegations and, following a full investigation, the individual was dismissed.” The findings of that investigation, the number of complainants, and the dates of the suspension and dismissal are not set out in the published reports.
Public Reaction and Consequences
The University of Strathclyde framed its actions around student welfare. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff are paramount, and we take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously,” a spokesperson told the Glasgow Times, adding: “The university has provided ongoing support to those affected and will continue to do so.” The spokesperson also said: “We recognise the courage it takes for anyone to come forward, and where they do, they will be heard and supported.”
The university pointed to its “dedicated Report & Support service which is fully available to students and staff to report safeguarding concerns.” Police Scotland confirmed it was looking into the matter, saying: “We have received a report relating to inappropriate communication. Inquiries are ongoing.” No arrests or charges were reported by either outlet.
Current Status
As of the reports published on 11 September 2026, Khadra had been dismissed from his post as Professor in Pharmaceutical Sciences and the police inquiry remained open. No charges have been announced, and neither report records any comment from Khadra himself. His current employment and whereabouts are not documented in the fetched sources.
Impact on Their Career/Life
The dismissal removed Khadra from the professorship he had held only since December 2024 and ended a continuous association with Strathclyde stretching back to his PhD in 2002. It also ended his role as the university’s advisor on engagement with the Middle East and North Africa. Beyond the dismissal itself and the ongoing police inquiries, the wider professional, legal and personal consequences for Khadra are not publicly documented in the fetched sources. The outstanding questions — the outcome of the police investigation and any next steps in his career — remained unresolved at the time of the last reporting.