A controversial article published by student website The Tab, titled ‘How Jihadi is your uni?’ has sparked outrage amongst students of the University of Exeter.
Although the article was originally published over 10 months ago, The Tab Exeter shared the article again on 22 February via their Facebook page resulting in a string of comments from student’s declaring their distaste towards it’s content.
Such comments included a berating from Hayden Cooper: “You should be bloody Ashamed Tab” – as well as “This is absolutely disgusting” from Leila Dara.
According to The Tab, the University of Westminter has the highest ‘Jihadi rating’ due to Mohammad Emwazi, otherwise known as Jihadi John, having been educated there. Since the article was published however, reports from US Officials in November revealed that Emwazi had been killed by a drone strike in Al-Raqqah, with confirmation of his death being released by Daesh in January of this year. Other Universities featured included Cardiff, Aberdeen, Hertfordshire, and more.
The article also dubbed itself “a round-up listing the old unis of current jihadis to see which uni has led the most to exciting career opportunities with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria” and joked that “Westminster might have the signpost for jihadi brutality but Liverpool [John Moores] have the success stories: if you want to go far, this is the place for you”.
Jack Harrison, Editor of The Tab Exeter, said: “We feel that as a newspaper we should highlight what a contemptible and ridiculous ideology these terrorist groups have, and that they can attract those from all backgrounds; in the hope that if only one misguided youth realises before it is too late the dangers of these murdering warmongers then we have done something positive for the world.”
Laura Jane Tiley, President of the Students’ Guild, commented: “This article, and the attitude behind it, trivialises significant and complex issues that are destroying lives.”
