Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help reduce cases of (a) anti-Semitism and (b) Islamophobia on university campuses.
Answered by Robert Halfon
This government condemns in the strongest possible terms any form of racial or religiously motivated harassment or violence. In the context of the conflict in the Middle East, there have been unprecedented rises in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, which are abhorrent on every level. Universities should be welcoming and inclusive environments and higher education (HE) providers have a responsibility to take a zero tolerance approach to any form of racial or religious harassment. They have clear responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to adopt robust policies and procedures that enable them to investigate and swiftly address reports of racism.
The Community Security Trust has reported an unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents, which is totally unacceptable.
To support Jewish students, the Secretary of State for Education and I wrote to all universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. I wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16 November 2023, emphasising that they must use disciplinary measures wherever appropriate, highlighting the importance of police engagement, and reiterating that student visas could be suspended where a foreign national is found to have committed or incited acts of racial hatred. This was one of the key actions set out in the five-point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November 2023. The plan also involves:
On 22 November 2023, the government announced in the Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism in education. The Quality Seal will be the cornerstone of this package for universities, providing a framework of measures that will make clear what good practice is in tackling antisemitism in HE, and making sure that universities are a safe and welcoming space for Jewish students and staff, as for all students and staff.
Anti-Muslim hatred is equally abhorrent and has no place in our society. No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their religion or belief and the government is continuing to work with police and community partners to monitor and combat it.
This government is proud to have funded Tell MAMA, a service that supports victims of anti-Muslim hatred, with over £6 million since their inception in 2012. Tell MAMA’s work has been recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim hate. The organisation has documented 2,010 Islamophobic incidents in the UK between 7 October 2023 and 7 February 2024. This represents a steep rise from the 600 it recorded for the same period the year previously. The government will not tolerate religious hatred towards Muslims and that is why the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities put in place an extra £4.9 million of protective security funding for Muslim mosques, faith schools and communities.
The new Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides physical protective security measures (such as CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing) in both mosques and associated Muslim faith community centres. Protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools. Headteachers of eligible schools were contacted directly by the Home Office in January 2023 to register their interest.
Lastly, as my right hon. Friend, Minister Buchan stated on 4 March 2024, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities plan to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and it will update the house shortly.
Oral Evidence Mar. 20 2024
Committee: Human Rights (Joint Committee)Found: We have seen an astonishing and distressing rise in anti- Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian
Written Evidence Mar. 20 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: their ability to understand the nature of structural biases in gen AI (e.g., xenophobia, misogyny, islamophobia
Written Evidence Mar. 20 2024
Inquiry: Defending DemocracyFound: The phenomena of rising nationalism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and antisemitism in the UK and beyond
Mentions:
1: Debbie Abrahams (Lab - Oldham East and Saddleworth) with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on implementing a definition of Islamophobia - Speech Link
2: Felicity Buchan (Con - Kensington) We do not agree with the all-party group on British Muslims’ definition of Islamophobia; we believe the - Speech Link
3: Fleur Anderson (Lab - Putney) There has been an appalling surge of antisemitism and Islamophobia in recent months, but the anti-Muslim - Speech Link
4: Kirsten Oswald (SNP - East Renfrewshire) May his memory be a blessing.The increase in antisemitism and Islamophobia is eye-watering. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Baroness Sherlock (Lab - Life peer) When it comes to national security, the threat of radicalisation and the scourge of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism - Speech Link
2: Baroness Hussein-Ece (LD - Life peer) extremism.In the past few years, the Government have refused to recognise or accept a definition of Islamophobia - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Steve Baker (Con - Wycombe) will take a moment to recognise that the United Nations has made today International Day to Combat Islamophobia - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Angela Rayner (Lab - Ashton-under-Lyne) We have seen an appalling surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia in recent months, and the previous strategy - Speech Link
2: Alison Thewliss (SNP - Glasgow Central) who is marking this significant month in the Islamic calendar.Friday is International Day to Combat Islamophobia - Speech Link
3: Rehman Chishti (Con - Gillingham and Rainham) is being made today, after 16 months of our Government not having an independent adviser to tackle Islamophobia - Speech Link
4: Mark Logan (Con - Bolton North East) One person after another said to me in private that they were fearful of an increasing mood of Islamophobia - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Afzal Khan (Lab - Manchester, Gorton) Prime Minister’s priority not be to get his own house in order and to stamp out extremism, racism and Islamophobia - Speech Link
2: Keir Starmer (Lab - Holborn and St Pancras) Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister marched them out like fools to defend Islamophobia, and now the hon - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Andrew Mitchell (Con - Sutton Coldfield) Government are absolutely clear that there is no place in our society, or anywhere else for that matter, for Islamophobia - Speech Link