NUS’ Black Students Campaign officer Malia Bouattia has received threats of violence on social media amid widespread disagreement over the defeat of a motion to condemn IS.
Bouattia was criticised after giving a speech that urged members to vote against a motion ‘to condemn the IS and support the Kurdish forces fighting against it, while expressing no confidence or trust in the US military intervention.’
The motion was put forward by Alliance for Workers’ Liberty member, Daniel Lemberger Cooper but was rejected by the NUS under the premise that the wording incited Islamophobic hatred and ‘condoned Western intervention’.
In a statement, the NUS’ Black Students’ Campaign explained why they voted down the motion, ‘[we] will be working with Kurdish students and the International Students Campaign to raise this issue within the NUS.
A motion will be taken to the next NUS National Executive Council meeting which truly reflects the situation. This motion will pose a condemnation of the politics and methods of IS as well as unequivocal support for the Kurdish people.
It will in no way pander to Western imperialistic intervention or the demonisation of Muslim peoples.’
Many were quick to react on social media regharding the perceived failures of the motion’s defeat.
Former leader of the EDL, Tommy Robinson tweeted, ‘Here is the Arab student who refused to condemn ISIS and show support for the Kurds @MaliaBouattia a complete disgrace’.
Miss Bouattia’s friends and fellow members of the Black Students Campaign have shown their support by using the ‘#StopAttackingMalia’ hashtag on Twitter.
In a public statement made on Facebook, Miss Bouattia defended her decision by saying, ‘This rhetoric exacerbates the issue at hand and in essence is a further attack on those we aim to defend.’
Speaking to The Gryphon, Zarah Sultana – a member of the NEC who co-signed the NUS’ explanation of why the motion was defeated, said, ‘The backlash against the national Black Students’ Officer has been abhorrent.
I stand in complete solidarity with her as she is one of the most hardworking activists within the student movement and demand that those who have launched this vicious attack apologise for misreporting events for personal political gain.’
The National Executive Council meeting is scheduled to take place in November.
Abla Klaa