Swastikas and Islamophobic hate on Birmingham campus

The Union of Jewish Students has condemned the daubing of swasitkas and the phrase ‘Islam Must Die’ on Birmingham University Campus.

On 17 January, the campus security and police were informed of the writing and swastika on University accommodation walls, according to the Birmingham Tab.

A statement from UJS (Union of Jewish Students) “unequivocally condemns the drawing of Nazi swastikas on the University of Birmingham campus.”

“As the Jewish community prepares to remember the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it is abhorrent to see that the lessons of the Holocaust have not been learnt.

“Jewish students reserve the right to walk around campus free from intimidation and free from hate.

“Birmingham students and UJS are in contact with campus security, police and the CST to ensure that Jewish students remain safe on campus.”

West Midlands Police Sergeant for Edgbaston, Pete Sandhu, said: “Mindless hate of this kind has no place in 21st century Birmingham and work is underway to find the person responsible.”

“My officers have visited both sites and spoken to a number of people. Evidential photographs have been taken and CCTV which may have captured the vandal is currently being reviewed”, according to Redbrick.

Fiyaz Mughal who is the Director of TELL MAMA UK, a group that reports anti-Muslim hatred, said “This is appalling, where someone has the guts and chutzpah to place such a statement inferring that Islam must die on a university campus that has lots of Muslim students.”

“We suggest that CCTV and relevant resources be used to find this individual or set of individuals. Much has been made of Prevent being enforced and mainstreamed in Universities.”

“Such a case should be looked at within the spectrum of Prevent given the inferences that can be made and given the nature of the crime which was targeted to cause maximum distress and fear to students, particularly Muslim students”

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