Fact check
“Wasim El‑Haj has lodged a racial discrimination case in the federal court against the state of New South Wales.”
Reasoning
The provided articles consistently state that El‑Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, lodged a claim in the Federal Court alleging unlawful conduct under the Racial Discrimination Act. No contradictory evidence is presented.
On confidence: Multiple independent excerpts from a Tier 1 primary source (The Guardian) report that Wasim El‑Haj has filed a racial discrimination claim in the Federal Court against the state of New South Wales.
Important context
The claim pertains to a legal filing; the case is ongoing and the NSW Department of Education has not yet filed a defence. The articles date from September 2026.
Evidence
Supporting (5)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination | New South Wales | The Guardian
government school ordered him to stop wearing symbolic garment as it ‘may cause discord’ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Adeshola Ore Community affairs…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination | New South Wales | The Guardian
Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School, is suing NSW for racial discrimination after allegedly being ordered to stop wearing a keffiyeh at the school. Photograph: The Guardian View image in fullscreen Wasim…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination | New South Wales | The Guardian
state of New South Wales . Wasim El-Haj, a former careers adviser at Sydney Girls High School – an inner-city selective government school – alleges the then acting principal told him in 2024 that the keffiyeh was seen as a symbol of…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination | New South Wales | The Guardian
operations. “It is with this context that the senior officers and the school advised you to not wear the keffiyeh to school.” El-Haj took periods of leave from his employment during 2024 and resigned from Sydney Girls High School in March…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourcePalestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discrimination | New South Wales | The Guardian
federal court last month, alleges Geoffrey Denyer, the then acting school principal, met with him on 15 May 2024 and said words to the effect of “I have been directed to direct you to remove this item of clothing”, indicating to El-Haj’s…
Limitations
All evidence comes from a single news outlet; no court documents or statements from the plaintiff are directly cited. The information is limited to what the articles report.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:23 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Palestinian careers adviser who was allegedly told to stop wearing keffiyeh at NSW school sues state for racial discriminationThe Guardian · Adeshola Ore Community affairs reporter