Postgraduate who was dragged from event says union should do more to clear his name

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

The president of the Oxford Union has bowed to pressure to resign after a blind student was dragged by his ankles from a debate event by a security guard.

Ebenezer Azamati, a postgraduate student from Ghana, has demanded that the union do more to clear his name of any implication of wrongdoing after he was forcibly removed from the event last month when he tried to return to his seat before the debate.

Brendan McGrath, the president of the union, who alleged that Azamati had behaved violently, accepted he “manifestly failed” in his duty to ensure every member felt welcome.

In a resignation statement posted on the union’s Facebook account, McGrath apologised and said he was wrong to seen to be trying to blame Azamati in the aftermath of incident.

Azamati said he was still dismayed by the union’s continued failure to acknowledge he did nothing wrong. He also criticised the union for incorrectly suggesting he was involved in a promised review of its procedures.

In a statement issued through Bindmans, the lawyers representing Azamati, he said: “Mr McGrath and the union have yet to acknowledge that I have done nothing wrong, which is upsetting. I would like the union to state now, clearly and straightforwardly, that I am not at fault in any way for the way I was treated.”

McGrath’s resignation came after the Oxford University Africa Society (AfriSoc) launched a petition calling for him to to go and union members started impeachment procedures against him. AfriSoc said Azamati’s treatment was “violent, unjust, inhumane and shameful”.

Several other senior post holders at the union have already resigned over the incident, according to Cherwell, the university’s student magazine.

McGrath said he was advised to bring a disciplinary case against Azamati on behalf of the security guard involved but failed to recognise the wider “institutional problems” highlighted by the incident.

“For all of my shortcomings, and all of my mistakes, I apologise profusely and unqualifiedly,” he added.

President of the Oxford Union, a debating society that operates independently of the university, is one of the most sought-after positions at Oxford and frequently a springboard to high-profile political careers. Past presidents include Boris Johnson, Benazir Bhutto, Michael Foot, Tony Benn and Jeremy Thorpe.

The university said it shared widespread outrage at Azamati’s treatment.

Oxford University (@UniofOxford) We share the widespread outrage regarding the unacceptable treatment of Ebenezer Azamati, a member of our University community, at the Oxford Union. Ebenezer’s college and the University are working to fully support him.

In his resignation statement, McGrath also called for an independent review of the union’s policies on disability and a professional review of its security system and staff training.

The manhandling of a blind man shows the Oxford Union still has a race problem | Afua Hirsch Read more

Azamati, an international relations student, demanded more details on the review McGrath had announced. He said: “It is unclear whether, and if so how, race and other equality issues are to be grappled with.”

He added: “The union has also stated that there are ongoing discussions with me about putting matters right. That is not correct.

Azamati said the union “should explain what it proposes to do and then to listen to what I have to say about its proposals. These steps would make Mr McGrath’s statement and resignation far more meaningful than it currently is.”

He expressed gratitude to those who had offered him support since the incident.

Azamati successfully appealed on Saturday against what he said were claims of “false violent disorder” by the union. The union withdrew its charge of violent misconduct against him and apologised “unreservedly”.

The society has hosted speakers and debates since 1823.