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<p>This government condemns in the strongest possible terms any form of racial or
religiously motivated harassment or violence. In the context of the conflict in the
Middle East, there have been unprecedented rises in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents,
which are abhorrent on every level. Universities should be welcoming and inclusive
environments and higher education (HE) providers have a responsibility to take a zero
tolerance approach to any form of racial or religious harassment. They have clear
responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to adopt robust policies and procedures
that enable them to investigate and swiftly address reports of racism.</p><p>The Community
Security Trust has reported an unprecedented rise in antisemitic incidents, which
is totally unacceptable.</p><p>To support Jewish students, the Secretary of State
for Education and I wrote to all universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond
swiftly to hate-related incidents and actively reassure Jewish students that they
can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. I wrote again to Vice Chancellors
on 16 November 2023, emphasising that they must use disciplinary measures wherever
appropriate, highlighting the importance of police engagement, and reiterating that
student visas could be suspended where a foreign national is found to have committed
or incited acts of racial hatred. This was one of the key actions set out in the five-point
plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November 2023. The
plan also involves:</p><ul><li>Calling for visas to be withdrawn from international
students who incite racial hatred. Visas are a privilege, not a right, and the government
will not hesitate to remove them from people who abuse them.</li><li>Logging specific
cases and sharing them with the Office for Students for their consideration.</li><li>Continuing
to make it clear in all discussions that acts that may be criminal should be referred
to the police.</li><li>Establishing a Tackling Antisemitism Quality Seal which will
be an award available to universities who can demonstrate the highest standards in
tackling antisemitism.</li></ul><p>On 22 November 2023, the government announced in
the Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism
in education. The Quality Seal will be the cornerstone of this package for universities,
providing a framework of measures that will make clear what good practice is in tackling
antisemitism in HE, and making sure that universities are a safe and welcoming space
for Jewish students and staff, as for all students and staff.</p><p>Anti-Muslim hatred
is equally abhorrent and has no place in our society. No one should ever be a victim
of hatred because of their religion or belief and the government is continuing to
work with police and community partners to monitor and combat it.</p><p>This government
is proud to have funded Tell MAMA, a service that supports victims of anti-Muslim
hatred, with over £6 million since their inception in 2012. Tell MAMA’s work has been
recognised internationally as a good practice model in recording and monitoring anti-Muslim
hate. The organisation has documented 2,010 Islamophobic incidents in the UK between
7 October 2023 and 7 February 2024. This represents a steep rise from the 600 it recorded
for the same period the year previously. The government will not tolerate religious
hatred towards Muslims and that is why the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities put in place an extra £4.9 million of protective security funding for
Muslim mosques, faith schools and communities.</p><p>The new Protective Security for
Mosques Scheme provides physical protective security measures (such as CCTV, intruder
alarms and secure perimeter fencing) in both mosques and associated Muslim faith community
centres. Protective security measures are also available to Muslim faith schools.
Headteachers of eligible schools were contacted directly by the Home Office in January
2023 to register their interest.</p><p>Lastly, as my right hon. Friend, Minister Buchan
stated on 4 March 2024, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities plan
to appoint a new independent adviser on anti-Muslim hatred, and it will update the
house shortly.</p>
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