An Oxford University student has made legal history by making charges of "institutional racism" against his place of study and he is now embroiled in the middle of a two-year court wrangle. The Muslim student, of Asian origin, has accused Oxford University of "institutional racism", whilst enrolled on a postgraduate course in Medieval Arabic at the University's Oriental Institute. Nadeem Ahmed, 33, secured an unprecedented preliminary hearing at the High Court over two tests, described by a senior Proctor (the university's internal regulatory body) as "flawed as qualifying examinations" the results of which had led to him being told he was unable to complete his proposed studies to doctorate level.
The university is an ancient institution founded by monks and is recognised as a respected seat of learning, which states the value of the "presence and contribution from a very wide range of nationalities and cultural backgrounds." Whilst exact figures are confidential, the university has given a "ball park figure" of one third of the Oriental Institute's seventy staff harking from ethnic backgrounds.
Ahmed began his academic career at the School of African and Asian Studies at London University, graduating with a 2:1 in religious studies and Urdu in October 1998. He was "strongly recommended" to do an MPhil at the Oxford Oriental Institute and was accepted by the Institute to study Medieval Arabic. On June 10, 1999, the three MPhil students; Nadeem, another Asian, and an indigenous student, were asked to take informal tests, which were described as having no impact on their career. Both Asian students failed the tests. After a subsequent re-test, the students were told they could remain on their course on the provision they did not remain at Oxford for their consequent PhD.
Whilst one of the Asian students remained to complete his MPhil, agreeing to forfeit his consequent doctorate level studies at Oxford, Nadeem Ahmed took exception to the curtailing of his career plans, suspended his education, and has been pursuing the issue through legal channels for the past two years. Ahmed complained that his supervisor, Fritz Zimmerman, had inadequately prepared him for the exam and that the tests were outside the university's procedures.
The case is championed by the Irish poet and Oxford don Tom Paulin, who is also a witness in the trial. He was Ahmed's personal and moral tutor during his studies and sought "redress" for his student's case by asking to have the "unlawful" test results discounted. Last year the high court ruled against Ahmed's attempts to have the exam results set aside, yet there has been acknowledgement by the university that the tests were flawed.
Meanwhile the other two students who were also part of the discounted exams have since graduated. Amongst his other supporters are the founders of the Institute of Race Relations, Sir Michael and Lady Dummett.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan caused a furore earlier this month by accepting an honorary degree from Oxford University despite representatives from the Asian, Pakistan, Russian, African and Middle Eastern Societies at Oxford requesting him to "postpone the receipt of his degree". Several communications by 'Z' (anonymity requested), a lawyer and prominent human right activist, whose father helped liberate concentration camps, informed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that it was becoming "increasingly clear to me and an increasing number of distinguished academics that the purpose of the University's current administration's method of handling complaints is to apparently exhaust ethnic minority complaints in order to force them, for the sake of Oxford's brand name, to withdraw their grievances." 'Z' later told The Muslim News that he was "deeply concerned" about the university having "no structure of responsibility or accountability." 2,000 protestors assembled "peacefully" to make their intentions felt, whilst Annan left by a back exit.
Abusive e-mails have been sent to Ahmed, which said Asians should not be at university but "working in McDonalds or a building site." Thames Valley Police are now considering charges against the two students found responsible. President of the Asian Society in Oxford Karim Birani described the whole incident as taking a "tremendous toll" on Ahmed, who is married and has a four-year-old son. He has been unable to work due to the pressures of preparing evidence for his impending court case later this year and whilst being granted legal aid he is still feeling both the emotional and financial strain. Nadeem Ahmed told The Muslim News that he was "touched by the tremendous support shown to me by the cream of the university's academic talent... this shows that individuals within the university are, as individuals, keen on ensuring that the university authorities are given every opportunity to enable the rules and regulations to be in compliance with current legislation."
Oxford University denied the charges of racism. A spokesman told The Muslim News: "The Oriental Institute, by it's very nature, is staffed by individuals motivated by their interest in, and respect for, the cultures they study... in the event that any individual is for any reason dissatisfied with the treatment he or she has received, advice may be sought from harassment advisers, the Equal Opportunities Officer or the Proctors' Office. Such investigations may lead to disciplinary proceedings where there is evidence of misconduct." The full trial - Nadeem Ahmed vs. The University of Oxford - is scheduled for hearing in the county court later this year.