by Students involved in anti-Semitic incidents at two major UK universities should be kicked out because their behavior is so “dangerous”, a government chief has said.
Lord Mann, the Government’s independent adviser on anti-Semitism, said any students involved in intimidating Jewish classmates and staff at Birmingham and Leeds universities had “forfeited their right to stay”.
Earlier this month, Jewish students at the University of Birmingham spoke of their fear after activists held up a banner at a rally that said “Zionists off our campus” and allegedly chanted “Death to Zionists”.
Meanwhile a Jewish chaplain at the University of Leeds has been forced into hiding with his family after being targeted with death threats because of his role as a backup for the Israeli Defense Forces.
In another incident at the university, a Jewish student center was sprayed with graffiti saying “Free Palestine”.
Lord Mann, a former Labor MEP who was appointed as the Government’s independent adviser on anti-Semitism in 2019, told the Telegraph that he had arranged urgent meetings with the two institutions because the cases were “two of the most serious incidents I have seen in universities. ever”.
“In both cases they are trying to exclude people from the university because they are Jews,” he said. “In one case [Leeds] chaplain, and in the second case [Birmingham] Jewish students and academics in general. This takes things to a different level.”
He said the involvement of “mass groups” in both cases was also worsening. “That’s why it’s more extreme and more dangerous in my opinion, because this becomes mob rule.”
Echoes of the 1930s
Lord Mann said attempts to exclude Jewish students and academics had echoes of the 1930s.
“This has happened all over the world and it’s never ended well, and of course it’s happened to the Jewish community before and it didn’t end well,” he said. “Comparisons with the past can be vague, but compared to the last 30, 40 years, these examples are more extreme and dangerous and a strong and effective response is needed.”
In the case of Leeds, Lord Mann said he had heard that non-students arriving on campus may have been involved in the incidents.
However, he said university authorities should impose the strongest punishment on any students involved in both cases.
“The participants in the university follow their right to stay in that university, that is my opinion, my advice on what should happen,” he said. “It crosses the line.”
He continued: “This goes against everything a university is about.
“This is a challenge for the life of the university as an entity. It’s so serious… this is so much more dangerous than I’ve seen in public before.”
He warned that if the two universities failed to act the consequences would be “severe”.
“If they’re not prepared or likely won’t be able to deal with this problem, they’re going to see the Jewish student population disappear very quickly,” he said. “The students will vote with their feet and it would be terrible if the cities of Leeds and Birmingham lose the incredible value of having so many Jewish students.”
He said: “This is not about free speech – this is about targeting Jewish students and staff because they are Jewish, and we don’t have that in this country.”
The strongest action possible
A University of Leeds spokesman said Lord Mann had a “very constructive” call with senior leaders on Friday. The spokesman said: “The university continues to assist West Yorkshire Police as they seek to bring to justice those behind last week’s horrific anti-Semitic incidents.
“We would take the strongest possible action against any student or staff member found responsible for anti-Semitism, and we are horrified that our Jewish student body has been targeted – just as we condemn the mis- anti-Semitic use and threats directed at Rabbis. Deutsch and his family. Ensuring that all members of our university community feel safe remains our top priority.”
The University of Birmingham said: “We take the concerns about the incident on campus on February 7 very seriously and have been working quickly to investigate the circumstances and take action.
“This includes working closely with West Midlands Police. Police have now confirmed that they are investigating two racially aggravated public order offenses and that further inquiries are underway. We will be assisting the police with this investigation.
“We take allegations of harassment or discrimination very seriously and will investigate such allegations in accordance with our policies and procedures.”
