Oxford Union Row On Blind Ghanaian Student’s Removal From Debate ‘Far From Over’

“I don’t know why they would have said that,” she said. “It’s common for students to reserve seats – even as Mr Azamati was talking to the security staff there were people walking past him to their reserved seats. 

“Also, the union allows members to stand if the seats are taken, so it’s unclear why he was not allowed to go in.” 

Two other people allegedly offered Azamati a seat after witnessing the start of the disagreement, an offer he attempted to accept before being pulled from the room. 

Despite taking place in mid-October, news of the incident only broke weeks later – raising questions about why none of the hundreds of students in attendance had made it known earlier. 

“As soon as the news got out we started to receive messages from students saying: ‘I was there and he was treated unfairly,’” Ogbonna explained. “The question I ask is: ‘If you were there why didn’t you speak up? Why didn’t you come to us earlier?’

“I’m not a member of the union so I’m not sure exactly how it works and can’t state it as a fact, but we believe there is a certain level of discretion expected of members when it comes to a matter that could bring the union into disrepute. Perhaps that explains the restraint shown by members of the union.” 

Ogbonna said that the Africa Society had written to the union on November 5 to try to avoid escalating the matter further – demanding a public apology by the union and its president.

“We needed him to rescind the ban and reinstate his membership,” said Ogbonna. “We needed them to punish the security person involved adequately, and then we needed them to compensate Mr Azamati for all the pain and trauma he has had to experience.”

So far, she said, these demands have not been met.

Just weeks ago it was reported by the Telegraph that the university’s St John’s College had launched an investigation after a Black alumnus said he’d tried to visit, only to be asked by a porter: “What did you do, clean the windows? Rob it?”

Ogbonna said many of the university’s black students had been put in positions where they had faced discrimination.