A petition started by students to have Bahar Mustafa, 27, removed for “hate speech” had received 7,581 signatures at the time of publication.
“Furthermore, according to your vote of no confidence on your student union page is listed ‘The current Welfare and Diversity Officer has used hate speech based on race and gender. For example the consistent use of hash-tags such as #killallwhitemen and #misandry, and publically calling someone ‘white trash’ under the official GSU Welfare and Diversity Officer twitter account.’ This is a very serious offence and it is not something which has been done for individual debate, it is forced segregation by a so called ‘Diversity Officer’ whom calls for the murder of a race due to their skin colour and gender using the university name on a public platform [sic],” the petition reads.
Mustafa has apologized for calling someone white trash via the official account, but has defended her use of hashtags and remains unapologetic about imposing the ban on white and cis men.
"It's a way of reclaiming the power from the trauma many of us experience as queers, women, people of colour, who are on the receiving end of racism, misogyny and homophobia daily," Mustafa told the Mirror in reference to her use of the controversial hashtags.
The students’ union responded to the ban that Mustafa imposed, by defending having “spaces where specific groups talk about overcoming prejudice”.
Mustafa’s outspoken militancy on the subject has caused her to become targeted, she alleges.
"Since the media storm, I have received death and rape threats, racial and gendered abuse, and had journalists from right-wing publications come to my home where my family lives,” Mustafa told the Mirror.
"I am always happy to listen, to be open and importantly, to learn," she added.
