[THREAD] I always knew it would be difficult being a Black, Muslim woman in the public eye but the racist and Islamophobic abuse I have been subjected to and death threats I have received since becoming NUS president are not ok. 1/5
Solidarity, Fatima!
The disgusting attacks and smears are an all too familiar pattern for those of us who are standing up for Palestinian rights.
We will not be intimidated into silence 🇵🇸
Tory MP Robert Jenrick's recent claim that our streets are overrun by "Islamist extremists" and that they are intimidating MPs is not only disturbing but downright appalling.
I am proud to be Black. I’m proud to be Muslim and I’m proud to be serving students across the country who are facing some of the most difficult challenges that students have ever had to face. 5/5
Question for Labour Muslims:
why are you still in the party?
You've written statements, 250+ of you signed an open letter but your party still REFUSES to apologise for supporting war criminals.
The longer you stay, the more you're complicit in what you claim to stand against.
No doubt, these attacks have taken a toll on my mental & physical health. But what keeps me going is the thousands of incredible students who elected me with an overwhelming majority. I was elected by them with the promise of serving them & that I would never give up on them. 3/5
There are those who are working tirelessly to make sure that women who look like me never feel welcomed or safe in public positions. I’m also working hard to make sure that no Black, Muslim women who assume this role in the future has to ever experience what I’ve experienced. 4/5
I came into this role with so much hope and enthusiasm to build on the amazing work of the student movement and to serve students across the UK. Instead, I’ve been subjected to the most horrifying attacks on my character, my faith and my identity. 2/5
After contact from my lawyers, the Jewish Chronicle have corrected their article and removed a quote from a NUS source falsely claiming they informed me of their decision before I found out on Twitter.
Let it be known that Muslim students spent YEARS campaigning for this, particularly Asha Hassan.
The fact that other parties now want to claim responsibility to save their reputation is endemic of the performative nature of some in the student movement.
ALTERNATIVE STUDENT LOANS UPDATE! 👏🏽
The team leading the efforts for alternative student finance visited the
@educationgovuk
and
@SF_England
to discuss the government commitment to providing sharia-compliant student loans.
It’s been commissioned and agreed!
Read more 👇🏽
I watched this live on TV and was left speechless. We're at a stage where politicians seem emboldened to express Islamophobic tropes in Parliament because they know it won't be challenged.
Absolutely appalling.
Solidarity
@zarahsultana
In Parliament today, the Prime Minister and then a Tory MP invoked Islamophobic tropes against me.
Rishi Sunak suggested I was responsible for Hamas and the Houthis. A Tory MP then implied I was "giving a free pass to terrorists" before pretending he hadn't.
Watch for yourself:
Thank you,
@MailOnline
&
@Daily_Express
!
“From the river to the sea…” is a call for the annihilation of the world’s only Jewish state. It is an anti-Jewish, anti-Israel genocidal slur and more must be done to stop it.
I know many Palestinian and Muslim students will feel intimidated and afraid - treated as suspects by their institutions and left with no support.
Please feel free to reach out.
I'm absolutely shocked and horrified!!!
I grew up watching Al Jazeera correspondent, Shireen Abu Akleh, bravely reporting on Palestine. She was my childhood and the voice of Jerusalem.
She was shot in the head today by Israeli forces. The targeting of journalists is a crime.
Solidarity with the three Muslim sabbs suspended by KCLSU for a statement they released in solidarity with Palestine
Muslim officers tend to find their voices silenced on critical issues like Palestine. The intimidation of Muslim officers by unelected staff members needs to stop
Words simply cannot express how cruel and brutal you must be - to attack innocent worshippers like this - with no mercy.
This is how Palestinian Muslims spend their Ramadan - the holiest month in the holy site
The conservative party has a well documented history of racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia. Much of which they refuse to investigate or hold anyone to account.
To put it simply, they don't care about racism.
If silence is violence, then who stood by watching Palestine and her children die?
As our brothers & sisters in Gaza and the West Bank are being subject to the worst violence since the Nakba, organisations like
@RamadanTent
thought their silence would protect them.
1/2
This is absolutely disgusting!! Shame on
@OfficialUoM
No student should ever be treated in such a vile manner. At a time where students are struggling with the cost of living and learning, UoM decides to continue exploiting students
Solidarity with
@rentstrikeUoM
!!!
🚨🚨 BREAKING: UoM have just used dozens of private baliffs to physically evict student protesters. Shame on
@OfficialUoM
that they would rather do this than consider basic demands for affordable rent. Any pretence that these scum care about student welfare is clearly bullshit.
That the NUS leaked details regarding my employment status was simply appalling. To then provide false quotes to the very same media outlets they leaked it to in an attempt to smear me as a liar makes their behaviour even more shameful.
Today, we remember the lives lost during the Srebrencia genocide in 1995.
27 years ago, Serb forces overran the town of Srebrenica & murdered 8372 Muslim men and boys and repeatedly raped and abused women.
#RememberingSrebrenica
The leader of the Labour party who also happens to be a human rights lawyer is endorsing collective punishment against the entire population of Gaza.
Collective punishment is a war crime under international law.
@Keir_Starmer
are you advocating for war crimes?
“I think that Israel does have that right.”
Sir Keir Starmer tells
@NickFerrariLBC
that it is acceptable for Israel to withhold power and water from citizens in Gaza.
Palestine does not ask us to be brave in the way of her citizens, only to speak up and to advocate.
If our own organisations are incapable of advocating for our own people then we need to ask the question: who are they serving and are they fit for purpose?
2/2
74 years of occupation, displacement and ethnic cleansing.
74 years of resistance - generation after generation.
74 years of persistence - for freedom and liberation
We vow to continue the struggle for freedom and justice 🇵🇸
Eid Mubarak 🌙 تقبل الله منا ومنكم صالح الاعمال
May this be the last Eid without a free and liberated Palestine.
May our next Eid prayers be in Al Aqsa 🤍🇵🇸
I am so proud of these students for staging a sit-in and calling for a ceasefire.
When the "leaders" of the student movement fail to take a moral stand, trust the students to teach them how it's done. 🇵🇸✊🏾
🎥:
@ayca_cu
We organised.
Despite the attacks. Despite the suppression. Despite PREVENT. Despite little support. Despite being under investigations. Despite events being cancelled. Despite our speakers being rejected. Despite the government. Despite Uni management.
And we'll continue.
I'm sorry but how exactly is Rishi Sunak - a Hindu - living proof that the tories don’t have a problem with Islamophobia?
Is Kay Burley making a racist assertion that all brown people are Muslims?
Not Keir Starmer gaslighting the Muslim community.
I need the community to remember this. Labour candidates should not be welcomed into our mosques and spaces. We will no longer allow them to take advantage of us for votes.
Enough.
'I was saying Israel had the right to self-defence... I was not saying Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines'
@Keir_Starmer
speaks after sparking fury among Muslim Labour members in an interview about the Gaza crisis with
@LBC
I spoke to The Times about the campus protests.
Freedom of speech is sacrosanct. The government must not further erode our rights.
From Vietnam, to apartheid South Africa and now Gaza - students have always been at the forefront of social justice.
I welcome the recent decision by the employment tribunal in a claim against the University of Bristol, which affirms the protection of anti-Zionist beliefs in the workplace. This marks a significant development in the ongoing discourse surrounding activism related to Palestine.
The irony of a Palestinian journalist being harassed by an Israeli "pro-democracy" protester. Lol.
Its calls for democracy until it involves a Palestinian.
This is absolutely disgusting.
The Labour Party stalked Muslim members and their families.
The Labour Party left complaints of Islamophobia untouched.
I really hope we see strong responses from the Muslim community because we have been taken for granted for way too long.
In
#LabourFiles
– The Hierarchy: we reveal disturbing allegations of entrenched racism and abuse within the UK Labour Party – including the secret surveillance within the party of ethnic minority members and their underage children.
لا نقول الا ما يرضي الله. انا لله وانا اليه راجعون
Please keep my friend in your prayers. Imagine hearing about your family being killed via social media.
The atrocities committed by Israel are unforgivable.
حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل
My family have just updated us in our family groupchat that 4 family members have been killed so far! They are still digging for more bodies.
لا حول ولاقوة الابالله
300,000 strong.
Nothing can stop us.. Not heavy rain.. Not Suella, Starmer or Sunak.. No intimidation can stop us from coming out to call for a FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
Update - the apartheid apologists at UK lawyers for Israel edited the text in their ludicrous article, removing “delighted” and “designed by children from Gaza”, so they can appear less unhinged.
A case study in the re-writing of history.
Original & updated.
The gov has decided to cut ties with NUS before the investigation is concluded. Which means they're not really interested in due process, rather, it's an opportunity to attack students.
They cannot pretend to care about students when you have failed them for many years.
Don't ever believe that an organisation is "progressive" or cares about justice before finding out how they treat women of colour and/or Muslim women.
Many enable oppression and Islamophobia.
They will punish us for daring to be political and make us believe it's our fault.
Students are queuing outside food banks, mental health support is non-existent and the education system is failing. Thousands of students left at breaking point with no guidance. So, stop the performative politics.
Today was my final day as a sabb at
@CityUniSU
. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve & lead City students for the past 2 years & I'm excited to pass the torch to
@gesmina_
. City students are lucky to have an incredibly passionate, genuine and caring person leading them
Disturbing read. The unfair discrimination of pro-palestine activists under the guise of combatting antisemitism has led to the stifling of debate and free speech on university campuses.
We warned universities. They didn't listen.
@elsclegal
@OfficialBrismes
🚨NEW! Together with
@OfficialBrismes
, we have launched a new report exposing the harmful impacts of the IHRA definition of antisemitism -which conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel- on academic freedom & free speech in UK campuses.
#NOIHRA
1/14
Israel, once again, bombs Gaza, targeting a residential tower. Acting with complete impunity and in direct contravention of international law.
Let's see how they spin this one.
The Labour Muslim Network is calling on all MPs to oppose this Tory bill in the strongest possible terms.
This proposed legislation marks one of the most dangerous attacks on the freedom of local people and authorities in decades, and is certainly a new face in the growing
So what's this attack about?
For 100 years, NUS has held governments to account on behalf of students. Some governments have hated NUS, some have enjoyed working with NUS. But NUS has been uncompromising in holding governments to account.
Watching the ICJ genocide case against Israel and having so many thoughts.
Every one of us played a crucial role. Never underestimate the impact of seemingly small acts like liking, sharing posts, and amplifying voices.
#ICJ
Dear Morocco 🇲🇦
So far, we're the only team to beat France at this world cup. We laid the blueprint. Now go out there and finish what was started.
Let's send the colonisers packing, the African way!
Yours
Tunisia 🇹🇳
Please keep the people of
#Sudan
in your prayers today. Many were not able to pray Eid prayers in Mosques because they're hiding for their safety. Many will not be able to be around their families and friends because they've had to evacuate their homes.
A whole genocide happening in Gaza and a new definition of extremism announced throwing your community under the bus whilst you're selling your soul for a couple of samosas.
And here we have an anti-palestinian bigot who comes into our campuses and calls our students terrorists.
You'd expect certain orgs to call it out but when it comes to safety, Palestinian students don't count :)
The FA has revealed a string of offensive racial remarks by John Yems but still concluded that the former Crawley manager is "not a conscious racist".
Warning: The below copy contains language of a racist and discriminatory nature.
As we enter the blessed month of Ramadan, keep the oppressed around the world in your prayers.
May this Ramadan bring us peace, spiritual uplifting and healing 🤲🏾
تقبل الله صيامكم وقيامكم وصالح اعمالكم 💜🌙
#RamadanMubarak
There was no real and meaningful engagement with students in the first place, because they've never cared.
This is an attempt at crippling the student voice and continuing policies that harm the most vulnerable.
I was a sabb during covid, the hardest period for students and this gov showed no support. I, like many sabbs, sent Donelan a letter about digital poverty & supporting students who don't have the basic equipment to study. Her response was a middle finger to all those students.
Inna lilla wa inna ilayhi raji'oun!
I'm so shocked and deeply saddened by this news.
Roqiya was an incredibly sweet person who always stood on the side of the oppressed everywhere.
Please keep Roqiya and her family in your prayers
Inna lilahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun.
I can’t believe I’m writing this but I just recieved the news that
@RoqiyaS
has passed away.
Please keep her in your duaas and pray for her family. Pray that Allah envelopes her in his infinite love and mercy and that he grants her Firdaws.
From Partygate to getting rid of the Human Rights Act, to anti-trade Union policies, this government is unprecedented in how aggressive it is in trying to stop anyone from holding it to account.
6 years..
I can't believe the "City University" chapter of my life is coming to an end...
Undergrad
Postgrad
Sabbatical officer + Covid
What a journey 😭
The
#Nakba
is not just a violent historical event that took place 75 years ago. The Nakba is ongoing through the annexation of land & violations of human rights
But we will continue matching. We will continue raising our voices until Palestine is free, from the river to the sea🇵🇸
Today my dad and I were reflecting on how it was only 12 years ago we were protesting against Ben Ali's dictatorship, & tomorrow we'll be outside the Embassy once again, protesting Kais Saied's dictatorship.
We are in pain but we continue to defend our freedoms. See you tomorrow
🚨 EMERGENCY PROTEST 🚨
We must not stay silent as the Tunisian government continues to silence dissent and imprison politicians and activists.
Tunisia needs our attention NOW
🗓️ Saturday 29th April
📍Tunisian Embassy, London
🕛 12pm
#SaveTunisianDemocracy
And in doing so, she's now leading a campaign of hate and disunity in order to withdraw confidence in parliament speaker
@R_Ghannouchi
. For what? Doing his job, and recognising the internationally recognised Gov in Tripoli.
#غنوشي_لست_وحدك
Do you condemn Israel? That's what I want to know.
Other than that, keep your useless tweet to yourself.
You enabled this. You will not be forgiven. We will not forget.
The scenes of hundreds killed at the Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza are absolutely devastating and cannot be justified.
International law must be upheld.
Hospitals and civilian lives must be protected.
The images coming from Rafah are truly devastating. There are no words to describe the severity of the situation.
🚨 Don't forget to join the emergency protest TODAY! 🚨
Hands off Rafah - Stop the Genocide
🗓 Tuesday 7 May, 6pm
📍Outside Downing Street
Standing outside the Chinese embassy in one of the largest international display of solidarity with the Uyghur people.
The message is loud and clear: We will not stay silent in the face of genocide against the Uyghurs.
#Stand4Uyghurs
The disgusting smears and attacks directed at Faiza are another example of the deep rooted Islamophobia Muslim women face when they enter political & leadership spaces.
Solidarity with
@faizashaheen
& all Muslim women & women of colour who are targeted simply for who they are.
49 dead.
The eye weeps, and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord.
انا لله وانا اليه راجعون
To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.
In all languages! All around the world! We are getting our voices heard!
This year, we have one New Year's Resolution: a permanent ceasefire in Gaza!
Join us at 19:00 GMT TONIGHT
#countdown2ceasefire
My mum told me earlier that the
#RSF
entered our family home in
#Bahri
. It seemed like they were chasing someone. Luckily most of my family evacuated yesterday. My uncle who was in the house at the time hid until they left.
We're one of the lucky ones.
#Sudan
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Chris Kaba as they come to terms with the tragedy of his loss. We must come together to demand justice for his family and an end to state violence against our communities!
#AbirMoussi
, who was and continues to be faithful to the dictator's regime is now enjoying the freedom that the revolution granted her. A revolution that only a few months ago she said didn't happen.
#غنوشي_لست_وحدك
If you hadn't said anything, it would have been better. You're 24 hours late.
No condemnation. No acknowledgement of how she was killed or by who. No calls for an independent investigation. No calls for accountability. Just insults.
I am saddened to hear of the death of respected journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh.
The work of journalists across the globe is vital and they must be protected to carry out their work.
Solidarity
@ApsanaBegumMP
Muslim women in public and leadership roles are demonised and treated in the most inhumane ways. It's vile and damaging.
Unfortunately, the treatment of Apsana feels too familiar.
“I want to make it very clear: this socialist Muslim working class woman will not be silenced.” My full speech at the
@socialistcam
Labour fringe rally here👇🏾
Solidarity!