Islamophobia is behind these attacks on student rights

Muslims at universities are being attacked as the government and media ramp up rhetoric that they are “hotbeds of extremism”.

Students at the college where the failed “Christmas day bomber” studied have come under particular pressure.

Police requested the membership list for the Islamic Society (Isoc) at University College London.

The student union, instead of protecting students, handed over the details of all 800 Isoc members. The police are now planning to interview every one of them.

It was also revealed this month that Special Branch forces will be deployed on campus to monitor “extremist” Islamic societies.

This is aimed at demonising the Muslim community.

It is in this atmosphere that some students at Staffordshire University had the confidence to try and remove student union president Assed Baig.

A campaign by anti-fascists on campus succeeded in saving Assed, a prominent anti-Nazi and anti-war campaigner.

During the vote, swastikas and racist graffiti were scrawled on campus.

“Combating extremism” is really fuelling this racist tide.