Jewish students at a major British university were “shouted down” during a debate over Israel’s “lies and propaganda”.
The Cardiff University Student Union’s annual general meeting was holding a debate on whether the union should “teach students to spot lies and propaganda from the State of Israel”.
However, the Cardiff Jewish Society said students who wanted to speak on the topic were “intimidated”.
They said that one of their speakers had to be escorted away for their own safety.
Cardiff University has been approached for a comment
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A spokesperson from Cardiff Jewish Society said: “Last week, at Cardiff SU’s AGM, students voted on whether the SU should ‘teach students to spot lies and propaganda from the State of Israel’.
“We, the Jewish students who wanted to speak on this motion, were intimidated, abused and harassed.
“We were left shaking in our seats. Two Jewish students had panic attacks.
“One student, who took to the stage to make the case for peace and dialogue, was shouted down and had to be escorted from the debate for his own safety.”
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Jewish students said the University “found it hard to believe that Jewish students were having a difficult time on campus”
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It comes as the society claims it has been to the University to discuss concerns about safety on campus.
The spokesperson added: “We now fear for our safety on campus and we feel unsafe walking between lectures. Jewish voices were silenced.
“We just want to be able to do the things that other students do. Despite this, we will not be silenced.
“We refuse to be intimidated into not being proud of our Jewish identity. In a previous meeting with the university, they found it hard to believe that Jewish students were having a difficult time on campus. Do you understand now?”
Cardiff University and Cardiff University Student’s Union have been contacted for a comment.
It comes as the Department for Education unveiled a five point plan to protect Jewish students on campuses in November.
This includes a call for visas to be withdrawn from international students who incite racial hatred and writing to Vice Chancellors asking that they act decisively against staff and students involved in antisemitism.
They added they were committed to protecting free speech on campus but “it does not mean creating an atmosphere where students fear expressing or showing their religion in public”.
