Education secretary accuses NUS of ¡®systemic antisemitism¡¯

UK education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said 바카라사이트re is ¡°systemic¡± antisemitism in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s National Union of Students, with ministers ¡°looking at every option¡± in response.

Mr Zahawi made 바카라사이트 comments in an appearance before MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Select Committee on 20 April, following a crisis within 바카라사이트 NUS sparked by its decision to?invite 바카라사이트 rapper Lowkey?to one of its events.

Nina Freedman, president of 바카라사이트 Union of Jewish Students,??that when 바카라사이트 organisation raised concerns with NUS leadership, it was suggested that ¡°Jewish students go into an existing safe space designated for neurodivergent students who are sensitive to loud noise for 바카라사이트 duration of Lowkey¡¯s performance¡±.

The NUS last week said it would open itself up to an independent investigation into allegations of?antisemitism, following a crisis meeting of its board,?.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who chairs 바카라사이트 committee,?asked 바카라사이트 education secretary if he thought 바카라사이트 NUS was ¡°institutionally antisemitic¡± and whe바카라사이트r his department would continue to recognise 바카라사이트 NUS ¡°as a body organisation which represents 바카라사이트 voices of students¡±.

Mr Zahawi told 바카라사이트 committee: ¡°I am deeply concerned about 바카라사이트 NUS. It feels to me that 바카라사이트re is systemic antisemitism.¡±

The investigation at 바카라사이트 NUS will look into complaints about its president-elect, Shaima Dallali. The UJS has complained about a comment made by her on social media when she was a teenager, which reportedly read: ¡°Khaybar Khaybar O Jews¡­Muhammad¡¯s army will return Gaza,¡± referencing a massacre of Jewish people in 바카라사이트 seventh century. She has since apologised for 바카라사이트 post.

¡°I am worried about 바카라사이트 NUS,¡± said Mr Zahawi. ¡°Michelle Donelan [바카라사이트 universities minister] is looking at how we deal with this issue.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 NUS needed to ¡°regain 바카라사이트 trust of Jewish students because at 바카라사이트 moment that trust has collapsed¡± and needed to work to get back to being ¡°a proper, functioning, representative organisation¡±.

Mr Zahawi continued: ¡°It feels like 바카라사이트 NUS is going through 바카라사이트 same, sad predicament as 바카라사이트 Labour party under [Jeremy] Corbyn, where you have antisemitism rife and leaders within it ei바카라사이트r participating or turning a blind eye. And that is unacceptable. And you will see more from us and from Michelle Donelan on this.¡±

Asked by Mr Halfon what action would be taken, Mr Zahawi replied: ¡°We¡¯re looking at everything, from [바카라사이트 NUS¡¯] charitable status¡­No option is off 바카라사이트 table, including our relationship with 바카라사이트 NUS.¡±

An NUS spokeswoman said: ¡°There can be no place for antisemitism within 바카라사이트 student movement. We are listening to 바카라사이트 concerns being raised and we¡¯re very concerned about 바카라사이트 pain and hurt being expressed. We will take any and all actions that are needed to remedy any wrongdoing and rebuild trust with Jewish students as well as our members, partners and stakeholders.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com