National Union of Students president is suspended after investigation into ‘anti-Jewish slur’; Muslim students threaten to disaffiliate from NUS

Interesting that FOSIS (Federation of Student Islamic Societies) is getting so anti the NUS; I always associate the NUS with a pro-Islamic, pro BAME, anti-Jewish, anti-British stance. But as my old mum used to say, with some people, the more you give, the more you may.

From the Daily Mail and Middle East Eye

The president of the National Union of Students has been suspended for alleged anti-Semitism, it emerged last night.

Shaima Dallali was stood down from the role after an investigation was launched into ‘very serious’ allegations in April.

It comes just months after the Government cut ties with the organisation over concerns of anti-Semitism. It is thought to be the first time in the union’s 100-year history that a president has been suspended. The probe came after Jewish students took offence to a 2012 tweet in which Miss Dallali shared a battle cry historically used when attacking Jews.

Miss Dallali, wrote: ‘Khaybar Khaybar O Jews… Muhammad’s army will return Gaza.’ The 27-year-old has since apologised for the tweet, saying she is ‘a different person’.

In a statement published on Friday evening, Fosis said the NUS had a track record of failing to help Muslim students acting in elected positions within the organisation and student unions across the country.

“For many years, Fosis has dealt with troubling cases of Islamophobia experienced by Islamic Societies, Muslim sabbatical officers and the wider Muslim student community in both Higher and Further Education,” Fosis said in a statement.

“This active targeting of Muslim students through a systematic pattern of over-scrutiny, bad faith allegations and subjugation to a disproportionate level of disciplinaries using Islamophobic tropes reflects prejudice and endemic bigotry that spans the entire educational journey of Muslim students.

“What Shaima is experiencing is a clear extension of institutional Islamophobia within the education sector, and it is apparent that NUS’ attitude towards Shaima is a manifestation of this oppression.”

Following her election, Dallali, a Black Muslim woman of Tunisian descent, told the Guardian that she feared for her safety after receiving a torrent of online abuse and threats. Before she was elected NUS president, Dallali served as president at City University in London.

An NUS spokesman said: ‘We cannot comment at this time as we are in the middle of an investigation. But we are prepared to take any and all actions recommended.’