The Aziz Foundation Welcomes London Metropolitan University’s Adoption Of The Definition Of Islamophobia

London Metropolitan University becomes the first university to adopt the definition of Islamophobia.

Working in partnership with the Aziz Foundation, London Metropolitan University has become the first university in the UK to adopt the definition of Islamophobia at the institutional level.

As part of its wider campaign of making higher education accessible to Muslim students, the Aziz Foundation welcomes the steps taken by London Metropolitan University in adopting the definition and urges all UK universities to do the same to ensure that universities are safe and inclusive learning environments for all. Following the publication of the UUK’s report earlier this week on ‘Tackling Racial Harassment in Higher Education’, it’s clear that more needs to be done to make universities truly inclusive.

Dr Zainab Khan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Outcomes and Inclusion at London Metropolitan University, said:

I am very proud that the University has today voted to adopt this definition. This is just the start, now the real work begins to ensure that we will actively tackle Islamophobia, and work hard to ensure that our Muslim students and staff are represented and supported at every level of university life.

London Met also recognises our civic responsibility as an institution proudly situated within the diverse boroughs of Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets which have significant Muslim communities.  Further to the definition offered by the APPG, we recognise that whilst this is not a universally agreed upon definition – we understand Islamophobia to not only be rooted in racism, but also rooted in prejudice and hate – and at London Met we aim to eradicate Islamophobia in all its forms, whether overt or covert.

Speaking with Dr Zain Sardar (Aziz Foundation) earlier this Summer, I was surprised to learn that institutions were yet to formally adopt the APPG definition and deeply concerned by the findings of the Foundation’s research into Muslim student outcomes and the academic pipeline.  We welcome this week’s publication of UUK’s recommendations into Tackling Racial Harassment in Higher Education, and we look forward to the Sector stepping up its action on Islamophobia as part of this work.’ 

Naz Shah MP, Vice-Chair of the APPG on British Muslims, said:

“We welcome this campaign by the Aziz Foundation for universities to adopt the APPG definition of Islamophobia as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month.”

“This week the London Metropolitan University became the first university to adopt the definition. It is important that statutory institutions can move forward to implement the definition, so we can finally move forward to actually tackling Islamophobia.”

“This is an important step. It will give British Muslim students some confidence that discrimination towards them at universities will be taken seriously.”

We would like to take this moment to congratulate London Metropolitan University on such a momentous achievement and look forward to working with them to ensure the higher education sector better accommodates British Muslim students.

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