Just before Jewish students sat down to Seder night, it was revealed that Brunel SU President Ali Milani has previously published a number of Tweets containing antisemitic tropes. Milani is seeking election to the role of NUS Vice President (Union Development) at the upcoming NUS National Conference later this month.

In response to the revelations, UJS Campaigns Director Josh Nagli said:

‘It is very worrying that someone seeking to be an NUS Vice President has previously expressed views that many Jewish students will find deeply antisemitic. The use of tropes that denote Jews as cheap or stingy is extremely offensive and, as made clear by various reports into antisemitism in the last year, it is completely unacceptable to use the word ‘Zionist’ as a term of abuse. It is disgraceful that this is now a common theme in the student movement.

‘Jewish students will be rightly outraged when they see a candidate for a national position having used antisemitic tropes, many of which would be deemed antisemitic under the definition that NUS holds itself to.  In a week where NUS research revealed a large proportion of Jewish students’ lack of faith in NUS effectively tackling antisemitism, these tweets are likely to entrench those opinions and provide further evidence of a culture in the student movement that wilfully tolerates antisemitism.

‘Whilst Ali's apology is welcome, this must be followed up by a willingness to engage with Jewish students. Otherwise, delegates to National Conference should seriously question whether they should be voting for this candidate.'