Anti-Semitism row at University of Essex as students vote AGAINST starting a ...

Hundreds of students at the University of Essex have voted against setting up a Jewish society on the campus, while a lecturer voiced his opposition on Facebook claiming it was a group for 'Zionists'.

More than 200 student union members - around a third of those polled - answered 'no' to the question 'Should there be a Jewish society?'.

The suggestion to start the group appeared on the student union website, whose rules state that any proposed new society must be ratified by securing votes.

Around 200 students at the University of Essex (pictured) voted against establishing a Jewish society on campus

Around 200 students at the University of Essex (pictured) voted against establishing a Jewish society on campus

Only registered students can vote in the poll.

'We are deeply disappointed by the significant proportion of students who have voted against the establishment of a Jewish society at the University of Essex,' a spokesman for the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) said.

'Jewish societies, of which over 60 exist on UK campuses up and down the country, provide a space for Jewish students to celebrate their culture and identity.

'The fact that some students at the University of Essex deem it fit to vote against that is quite simply shocking.'

The row has also embroiled a lecturer at the university, Dr Maanuf Ali, who according to the UJS has displayed anti-Semitic views.   

Dr Ali, expressed open opposition to the idea of a Jewish society on a Facebook post on the University of Essex Freshers' Page 2018-2019. The original post said that Israel plans to 'expel 36,000 Palestinians from the Negev',  and Dr Ali commented that 'the Zionists next want to create a society here at our university!'

It is not the first time Dr Ali has shared questionable and controversial material on Facebook, including one post that appeared to deny the Holocaust. 

The computers and electronic lecturer shared a quote attributed to Edgar J Steele, an attorney who defended the white separatist organisation the 'Aryan Nations'.

Dr Ali, who lecturers in computer and economists at the University of Essex, has more than once shared conspiracy theories about Jews on Facebook

Dr Ali, who lecturers in computer and economists at the University of Essex, has more than once shared conspiracy theories about Jews on Facebook

The quote reads: 'In all of German Occupied Europe, there resided 2.4 million Jews before the war, according to the world Jewish encyclopedia.

'After the war, 3.8 million Jewish 'Holocaust survivors' were receiving pensions from the German government.'

The quote continues: 'Tragically, the remaining 6 million were lost.' 

Additionally, Dr Ali

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