A Muslim imam has quit his post as a college chaplain after college leaders refused students and staff permission to hold a “Palestine Awareness Day.”
Students and staff at Blackburn College were left dismayed at the sudden decision of college leaders to cancel the event after initially giving it the green light.
Imam Saleem Sidat, who has served at the college for 13 years, slammed the decision in a Facebook post, saying: “During the week before we finished for the Christmas holidays, I was informed that the proposal for Palestine Awareness Day was rejected. The event was being organised by some University Centre students where they were due to speak alongside a reputable Palestinian speaker; known to regularly speak at diverse events across the country and share the lived experience of herself and other victims in Gaza.”
Imam Saleem said that management decided, suddenly, to not allow the event without explanation leaving him “no choice but to escalate the matter to Lancashire Council of Mosques (LCM).”
“After returning to the college in the new year, I noticed that the attitude of management had changed towards me. And this was not merely my perception, as this was later substantiated, formally, through the notice of investigation I received, making allegations of ‘serious insubordination’ and the like, all based on my manner towards my managers in one-to-one conversations. The letter referenced challenging conversations for a couple of unrelated issues, dating back to a time prior to the decision about Palestine Awareness Day being communicated to me…
“Anyhow, this made my position untenable and I was left with no option but to tender my resignation. Upon resignation, the investigation was retracted by management and I completed my tenure at the College, after serving my notice period.”
He added: “As I was appointed, primarily, as the representative of the Blackburn Muslim community at the College, the treatment of the management towards me cannot be understood as merely a personal matter. Rather, it reflects the tone deaf attitude of the management towards the community and their needs. Hence, my resignation, under such circumstances cannot be understood except as the breakdown of the relationship of the College with the community.
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“Also, it is important to note that the constituency; within which the College operates, recently elected an independent MP: Adnan Hussain, primarily because of the Gaza genocide. Therefore, there is the absence of a democratic mandate for such a decision. This stands true despite the personal backgrounds of those in management, as ‘diversity is more than skin deep’, as articulated by Baroness Warsi.
“Hence, this episode, alone, demonstrates that there is a ‘collective failure’ of the organisation to ‘provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture’ or religion.”
Blackburn College response
In response to the allegations, a Blackburn College spokesperson said the college, as per government guidelines, is unable to host “political or exclusionary events.”
“Individuals from different cultures, perspectives and experiences are at the heart of Blackburn College. We are guided by our values in everything we do and recognise that being a diverse and inclusive college helps us fulfil our responsibility to make a difference in transforming the lives of our students through education. Equity, diversity, and inclusion at Blackburn College is one of our core values.
“Following Department for Education guidance, and in line with our own Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy, Blackburn College is unable to host political or exclusionary events. Blackburn College works closely with Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum, as well as a number of community groups, to provide a safe environment for all.”
But Muslim lawyers and campaigners for Palestinian rights have also criticised the decision of leaders at Blackburn College.
“I am shocked and dismayed to hear about what has happened at Blackburn College”, said Attiq Malik, a human rights lawyer. “What we see here is an attempt to censor any discussion of what is potentially a genocide in Gaza.
“It begs the question, what would these same people do if they were alive when there was slavery or apartheid in South Africa? Would they not discuss slavery, not discuss racism or not discuss apartheid?”
Malik added: “Colleges and universities are places which are supposed to encourage discussion and debate of issues and problems in our world, and to not allow an event which discusses the situation in Gaza is not only deeply disappointing but is also a breach of a basic human right of the freedom to express oneself.”
