Dear Observer Editor,

As the National Union of Students (NUS) Black Students’, Officer - representing nearly one million Asian, African, Arab and Caribbean students - I condemn all instances of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Last week’s article (‘Boycott threat to Israeli colleges’) presented a partial view of the reality of the racism faced by students in Britain, by suggesting that anti-Semitism is the main racist threat on campus.

In fact, a growing racist climate is affecting all minority communities and it is a matter of urgency that this is challenged.

In this post 9/11 climate the Muslim community is particularly threatened. Recent figures on racist attacks in London show, for example, Jewish people are 3 times more likely to be attacked than a white person, with Asian or African-Caribbean people 10 times more likely and Arabs 11 times more likely. Every such attack is intolerable.

Since September 11 2001, several young Muslim men have been killed in racist attacks in Britain. Others have been seriously injured including 22-year old graduate Yasir Abdelmouttalib who remains brain damaged, paralysed and has lost most of his sight.

Within education, Black students continue to suffer discrimination where a lack of ‘anonymous marking’ makes it is possible for the lecturer to identify that student. Studies have showed black students face bias on gaining places to ‘prestigious’ universities.

In the past year an improved dialogue between NUS and Muslim students has begun, which is an important and welcome development. It is essential at this time to oppose the racist threat faced by all minority communities.

Yours faithfully,

Pav Akhtar
NUS Black Students' Officer
NUS Anti-Racism Convenor

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