The Oxford Debating Union describes itself as the world's most prestigious debating society, but organisers of the freedom of speech debate are now calling for it to be scrapped

The President of the Oxford Students' Union calls for Oxford debate to be cancelled after fears over student safety as a "racist" attack takes place, reports the NUS Black Students Campaign.

The NUS Black Students Campaign press release in full: The NUS Black Students Campaign and Oxford University Students Union are responding to reports of an Asian student expressing peaceful opposition to the invite of British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin and Holocaust denier David Irving has been racially abused and threatened. Leaders from both bodies are calling on Oxford Union to rescind both invitations on grounds of safety to students.

Oxford University, on Friday 23rd November saw an Asian woman student, who wishes to remain anonymous due to concerns for her safety, holding up a placard opposing the invite to Griffin and Irving on campus at Oxford. She was verbally abused with racist terms and then had threats of violence.

Martin McClusky, President of the Oxford University Students Union said: "Our main concern has always been that this event would put BME students at risk, and I think that this incident demonstrates the very real threat to students and others from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Once again, I would urge Luke Tryl and the Union officers to listen to the calls of BME Students, and most recently Trevor Phillips, to cancel this event and not put BME students and residents in more danger."

Ruqayyah Collector, NUS Black Students Officer said:
"This incident confirms the worst fears of Oxford University Student Union, the NUS and anti-fascist activists; where fascists have a presence racist incidents and attacks increase. Even before the so-called 'debate' has taken place, a student has been abused and threatened. Providing a platform for Holocaust-deniers and fascists will lead to violence and threats against those they target. Racist attacks increase where the BNP have a presence. This is clearly not a question of freedom of speech as Oxford Union is not obligated to provide a platform to Griffin and Irving, but a question of public safety and freedom from threats of violence.

Giving the prestigious platform of Oxford Union over to the promotion of fascism violates the fundamental right of Black students to exist free from threats of violence on campus.

Oxford Union must rescind these invites before anyone else is attacked or abused, and instead invite those who believe in freedom for all people, or else it will have to bear the full responsibility of jeopardising the freedom and safety of students on campus who are targeted by fascists."