National Union of Students elects a new leader who made comments about an 'Islamic takeover' and said she would like to 'oppress white people' when she was a teenager

The new leader of the National Union of Students has been elected on a platform of calling for a national strike at Britain's universities. 

Zamzam Ibrahim, 24, said in her manifesto the strike would be for free education, better maintenance grants for less wealthy students and the return of a post-study work visa for people from abroad, her manifesto says. 

Ms Ibrahim sparked controversy in 2017 when online posts she made as a 16-year-old came to light, which said she wanted to 'oppress white people' and see an 'Islamic takeover'. She insists they were 'taken out of context' and her views have changed. 

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Zamzam Ibrahim, currently NUS vice president for Society and Citizenship, was elected leader today at the organisation's conference in Glasgow (pictured) 

Ms Ibrahim sparked controversy in 2017 when online posts she made as a 16-year-old came to light, which said she wanted to 'oppress white people' and see an 'Islamic takeover'. She insists they were 'taken out of context' and her views have changed

Ms Ibrahim was president of the students' union at Salford University and is the third female ethnic minority NUS leader in a row, taking the reins from Shakira Martin.  

She said in her election statement: 'Our national union and our education sector are facing some of the biggest challenges it has had to confront in living memory and is in dire need of transformation.

'Universities across the UK are facing bankruptcy, college students are unable to afford their journeys to class and racism is running rampant on our campuses. 

'There has never been a greater need to rebuild our national union as the fighting, unwavering force that is primed to brave the challenges that lie ahead.' 

In the old posts, Ms Ibrahim suggested friendship between men and women is un-Islamic and opposed to the government's anti-radicalisation strategy, Prevent. 

In one message she responded to a question on AskFM on what book everyone should read. She said: 'The Quaraan. We would have an Islamic takeover!'

In another message on the topic of the possibility of friendship between a man and a woman, she replied: 'I've had this debate with many friends! Maybe in some cases but Islamically it's incorrect for girls to be friends with a guy anyway!

'So I'm gonna say NO not the kind of friendship they can have with the same gender there is always boundaries.'

In one tweet from May 9, 2012 under the hashtag #ifIwasPresident, she wrote: 'I'd oppress white people just to give them a taste of what they put us through!'

Writing after the furore caused by the since-deleted tweets, Ms Ibrahim said they were sent at a time she was 'still working out who I was'. 

'The adolescent comments of a young girl were twisted to make them seem far more sinister than they ever were intended to be,' she wrote on The Independent.  

'There's no doubt this collection of social media posts was supposed to make me seem like a fanatical Muslim and a threat to British society.

'I find it strange that I even have to clarify this, but for the avoidance of doubt I will [again]: the comments clearly do not reflect my views today.' 

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Ibrahim, currently NUS vice president for Society and Citizenship, was promoted at the organisation's conference in Glasgow  

Ms Ibrahim attended Bolton Sixth Form College before attending Salford to study business and financial management. 

Ms Ibrahim said today: 'I have been fighting for liberation, equality and against injustice throughout my time both within and out of the student movement. 

'In response to media outlets deliberately targeting out of context, misrepresentative social media posts, they purposefully undermine young people – particularly young Muslim women – from coming forward to make a positive difference to society. 

'I have worked with interfaith, anti-racist and diversity organisations, bringing communities together to foster inclusivity and respect. This work will be at the heart of NUS going forward.'