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| I’m the new NUS president – and no, I’m not an antisemitic Isis sympathiser | I’m the new NUS president – and no, I’m not an antisemitic Isis sympathiser |
| (4 months later) | |
| This week I became the first black woman to be elected president of the National Union of Students, and the first Muslim who will hold this position too. But instead of celebrating and publicising this incredible landmark, the media coverage has been cluttered with stories calling me a racist, an antisemite, an Islamic State sympathiser and more. | This week I became the first black woman to be elected president of the National Union of Students, and the first Muslim who will hold this position too. But instead of celebrating and publicising this incredible landmark, the media coverage has been cluttered with stories calling me a racist, an antisemite, an Islamic State sympathiser and more. |
| The truth is, as those who know me well understand, I’ve always been a strong campaigner against racism and fascism in all its forms. And I’d like to set a few things straight. | The truth is, as those who know me well understand, I’ve always been a strong campaigner against racism and fascism in all its forms. And I’d like to set a few things straight. |
| Specifically, on the claims that I refused to condemn Isis: two years ago I delayed a National Executive Council motion condemning Isis – but that was because of its wording, not because of its intent. Its language appeared to condemn all Muslims, not just the terror group. Once it was worded correctly I proposed and wholly supported the motion. | Specifically, on the claims that I refused to condemn Isis: two years ago I delayed a National Executive Council motion condemning Isis – but that was because of its wording, not because of its intent. Its language appeared to condemn all Muslims, not just the terror group. Once it was worded correctly I proposed and wholly supported the motion. |
| Yet newspaper reports this week still depict me as a young Muslim who supports Isis. This is simply not true. | Yet newspaper reports this week still depict me as a young Muslim who supports Isis. This is simply not true. |
| There is no place for antisemitism in the student movement, or in society | There is no place for antisemitism in the student movement, or in society |
| Over the last two years I have received untold vitriol online – rape and death threats in abundance. I had to involve the police for my parents’ protection. But I stood strong, I persevered and, after serving as the NUS black students’ officer, student representatives across the country have shown faith by electing me. | Over the last two years I have received untold vitriol online – rape and death threats in abundance. I had to involve the police for my parents’ protection. But I stood strong, I persevered and, after serving as the NUS black students’ officer, student representatives across the country have shown faith by electing me. |
| Some may not agree with my politics and ideologies, but I do believe the student movement has a shared goal: to liberate education, creating and supporting access and opportunity for all. This is what I intend to focus on. | Some may not agree with my politics and ideologies, but I do believe the student movement has a shared goal: to liberate education, creating and supporting access and opportunity for all. This is what I intend to focus on. |
| I am deeply concerned at accusations of antisemitism. In an open letter last week in response to concerns raised about my candidacy by Jewish students, I sought to allay their fears, and answered all points put to me honestly. | I am deeply concerned at accusations of antisemitism. In an open letter last week in response to concerns raised about my candidacy by Jewish students, I sought to allay their fears, and answered all points put to me honestly. |
| I want to be clear, again, that for me to take issue with Zionist politics is in no way me taking issue with being Jewish. In fact, Zionist politics are held by people from a variety of different backgrounds and faiths. For me it has been, and will always be, a political argument, not one of faith or ethnic identity. Zionism, religion and ethnicity must not be seen as one and the same. If the language I have used in the past has been interpreted any other way then let me make this clear – it was never my intention, although my political ideologies and beliefs remain unchanged. | I want to be clear, again, that for me to take issue with Zionist politics is in no way me taking issue with being Jewish. In fact, Zionist politics are held by people from a variety of different backgrounds and faiths. For me it has been, and will always be, a political argument, not one of faith or ethnic identity. Zionism, religion and ethnicity must not be seen as one and the same. If the language I have used in the past has been interpreted any other way then let me make this clear – it was never my intention, although my political ideologies and beliefs remain unchanged. |
| There is no place for antisemitism in the student movement, or in society. If any of my previous discourse has been interpreted otherwise, such as comments I once made about Zionism within the media, I will revise it to ensure there is no room for confusion. I was being critical of media outlets that unquestioningly support Israel’s actions and maltreatment of Palestinians, I was not talking about the media as a whole, or repeating despicable antisemitic prejudice. The first thing I did on being elected was to hold a meeting with the Union of Jewish Students, and these meetings are set to continue. | There is no place for antisemitism in the student movement, or in society. If any of my previous discourse has been interpreted otherwise, such as comments I once made about Zionism within the media, I will revise it to ensure there is no room for confusion. I was being critical of media outlets that unquestioningly support Israel’s actions and maltreatment of Palestinians, I was not talking about the media as a whole, or repeating despicable antisemitic prejudice. The first thing I did on being elected was to hold a meeting with the Union of Jewish Students, and these meetings are set to continue. |
| I’ve also been accused of being an extremist for campaigning against this government’s Prevent agenda. But this is an unjust and prejudiced scheme that puts all our civil liberties under threat. Prevent is also opposed by the UK’s teaching and academic unions, by politicians, human rights groups, and by my colleagues within the NUS. Yet when a Muslim woman speaks out on this, it seems she is suddenly a danger, and a matter of national concern. | I’ve also been accused of being an extremist for campaigning against this government’s Prevent agenda. But this is an unjust and prejudiced scheme that puts all our civil liberties under threat. Prevent is also opposed by the UK’s teaching and academic unions, by politicians, human rights groups, and by my colleagues within the NUS. Yet when a Muslim woman speaks out on this, it seems she is suddenly a danger, and a matter of national concern. |
| Because of my background and religion, I’ve often faced hate-fuelled prejudice. It’s part of what has motivated me to organise conferences against racism and fascism, champion interfaith work, and train our union members to deal with hate crime. It’s a record I look forward to building on, with a committed team at the NUS. | Because of my background and religion, I’ve often faced hate-fuelled prejudice. It’s part of what has motivated me to organise conferences against racism and fascism, champion interfaith work, and train our union members to deal with hate crime. It’s a record I look forward to building on, with a committed team at the NUS. |
| The student movement has always stood up to injustice. We were there to fight apartheid in South Africa, we were there to demand same-sex marriage, and we helped those seeking refuge during last year’s humanitarian crisis in Europe. | The student movement has always stood up to injustice. We were there to fight apartheid in South Africa, we were there to demand same-sex marriage, and we helped those seeking refuge during last year’s humanitarian crisis in Europe. |
| This week we committed to remember Holocaust Memorial Day, to battle antisemitism, to defend and fight for LGBT+ students, and those with disabilities. These are progressive actions. We represent the realities of students’ lives, and I’m proud to be a part of that. | This week we committed to remember Holocaust Memorial Day, to battle antisemitism, to defend and fight for LGBT+ students, and those with disabilities. These are progressive actions. We represent the realities of students’ lives, and I’m proud to be a part of that. |
| As always there will be times when we disagree. From tuition fees to Israel/Palestine, it’s to be expected, and to be celebrated, that students won’t always see eye-to-eye. That’s the beauty of democracy. There is, however, something we must all agree on: there is no space for prejudice in our movement, and I will continue to fight it in all its forms, whomever it targets. That is my promise. | As always there will be times when we disagree. From tuition fees to Israel/Palestine, it’s to be expected, and to be celebrated, that students won’t always see eye-to-eye. That’s the beauty of democracy. There is, however, something we must all agree on: there is no space for prejudice in our movement, and I will continue to fight it in all its forms, whomever it targets. That is my promise. |
| Whether tackling the black attainment gap, hate crime on our campuses, or the increasing inequality that permeates our education system and beyond, there’s an enormous amount of work to be done, together. My election hasn’t taken place in a vacuum. Up and down this country students are restless and angry, tired of a system that sees education as nothing more than a commodity, one that throws us into a lifetime of unfairness, injustice and crippling debt. | Whether tackling the black attainment gap, hate crime on our campuses, or the increasing inequality that permeates our education system and beyond, there’s an enormous amount of work to be done, together. My election hasn’t taken place in a vacuum. Up and down this country students are restless and angry, tired of a system that sees education as nothing more than a commodity, one that throws us into a lifetime of unfairness, injustice and crippling debt. |
| I have a mandate to enact the policies voted for by students at our national conference. The NUS must be about opening minds, educating people, and building human connection through intelligent discussion instead of angry rhetoric. I’ll ensure we do just that. | I have a mandate to enact the policies voted for by students at our national conference. The NUS must be about opening minds, educating people, and building human connection through intelligent discussion instead of angry rhetoric. I’ll ensure we do just that. |
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