A statement from DPIR
The staff and students of the Department of Politics and International Relations are shocked to hear about an incident at the Oxford Union, where one of our students was forcibly removed from the debating chamber. While we are unaware of the exact details of the event, we consider the treatment Ebenezer Azamati (MPhil in International Relations) experienced to be unacceptable.
Our key concern is the wellbeing of Mr Azamati. We have been in touch with him to discuss any support he may need.
In DPIR, we aim to foster an inclusive, welcoming academic environment here at Oxford. As a community, we have been appalled by the incident. The Oxford Union is a private, independent debating society, separate from the University. The University is writing to the Union, to push for answers on how it intends to make amends to Mr Azamati and what further steps it will take to avoid such an incident being repeated. The Department fully supports the University in this.
We would like to thank the Oxford University Africa Society for the support they have given Mr Azamati during this distressing time.
The Department would like to remind all students that we provide a range of support services to help when needed. These resources include your supervisors, the Department’s Harassment Officers, the University’s Welfare and Wellbeing services and Disability Advisory Service, and College Welfare Teams. More information and contact details for key staff members can be found on the University website.
