Third of Muslim Students Worry About Receiving Abuse

A survey conducted by the NUS has highlighted that racially-motivated abuse is still an issue on UK university campuses.
The survey was carried out to better understand Muslims’ experience of university life. The results revealed that a third of them have been subjected to abuse and crime and that many of them feel the attacks were motivated by Islamophobia.
A total of 578 students responded to the questions sent out as part of the Muslim Students’ Survey. The results of the survey showed that one third of Muslim students are “fairly or very worried” about suffering abuse.
Out of those who have suffered abuse and crime, 79 per cent felt that the attacks were racially motivated and that they were a result of Islamophobia.
The issue of racism on campuses across the UK was brought into the forefront of universities’ consciousness when two people were arrested last month after a black student complained about receiving abuse while she was in her halls of residence.
She posted a video of the incident in which her abusers are heard calling out “we hate the blacks”.
“We are deeply concerned about Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment within the education sector and society as a whole,” said Hareem Ghani, the NUS women’s officer.
“Action must be taken immediately by institutions and students’ unions to safeguard Muslim students – especially women – against racism in or around campus.”
> Naomi Round