Kathmandu— The Washington Post has been ordered to reinstate opinion columnist Karen Attiah and award her back pay after an independent arbitrator determined the newspaper did not have adequate cause to terminate her employment. Attiah was fired in September 2025 for social media posts made following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which the Post said violated its social media policy. The decision follows a dispute stemming from those posts and comes as the Post navigates financial pressures and an editorial refocusing under owner Jeff Bezos.

Termination and Initial Dispute

Attiah was dismissed after posting on Bluesky following Kirk’s death in September 2025, referencing past comments he had made about Black women. The Washington Post cited a breach of its social media policy as the reason for her termination, stating that employees must ensure their online conduct is respectful and does not damage the integrity of the newspaper's journalism.

Arbitrator’s Ruling

Independent arbitrator Sarah Miller Espinosa determined that the Post had violated its labor agreement. Espinosa found “The Washington Post failed to establish the grievant engaged in gross misconduct,” according to a copy of the decision obtained by Attiah’s lawyers. The ruling mandates the reinstatement of Attiah and awards her back pay.

Attiah's Response

In a statement, Attiah described the decision as confirmation that she was wrongfully terminated while performing her duties as an opinion writer. “After spending over a decade of my career at the Post as an editor and an opinion columnist focusing on race, gender and global human rights, I’m relieved to finally have that record set straight,” she said.

Post's Broader Challenges

The ruling arrives during a period of change for The Washington Post. In February 2025, owner Jeff Bezos announced the opinion section would shift its editorial focus toward themes of personal liberties and free markets. Additionally, the newspaper has faced significant financial difficulties, announcing layoffs affecting approximately one-third of its workforce in February, impacting multiple departments.

The arbitrator’s decision resolves the dispute between Attiah and The Washington Post, requiring the reinstatement of a long-time columnist during a period of transition for the publication.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.