- Malia Bouattia, 28, was elected president of the National Union of Students
- The activist previously argued that condemning ISIS is Islamophobic
- She also endorsed the Palestinian 'resistance' and said that her own university was a 'Zionist outpost'
- MPs expressed horror after NUS conference saw Miss Bouattia's election and delegates opposing Holocaust Memorial Day
Elected: Malia Bouattia was today elected as the new president of the National Union of Students
A radical activist who has refused to condemn ISIS was today elected president of the National Union of Students.
Malia Bouattia has previously endorsed Palestinian 'resistance' against Israel, arguing that 'non-violent protest' is not enough, and called her own university a 'Zionist outpost'.
She was elected as Britain's most high-profile student today hours after NUS delegates argued against marking Holocaust Memorial Day, to cheers from a crowd.
The developments were condemned by Labour MPs, who said they were 'aghast' at Miss Bouattia's election and warned that the NUS 'no longer represents students well', while a leading war hero denounced her as an 'anti-semitic advocate of terrorist violence'.
Miss Bouattia, 28, who is originally from Algeria but went on to study at the University of Birmingham, defeated current president Megan Dunn by 372 votes to 328.
She previously made the news when, as the NUS officer for ethnic-minority students, she led efforts to stop the union officially condemning the Islamic State terror group in 2014.
The activist warned that speaking out against ISIS would be a 'justification for war and blatant Islamophobia', forcing union officials to clarify that 'NUS does not support ISIS'.
In the run-up to today's election, Miss Bouattia lost the support of several NUS delegates when it emerged that she had called Birmingham University a 'Zionist outpost in British higher education'.
She wrote in an article: 'It also has the largest JSoc [Jewish society] in the country, whose leadership is dominated by Zionist activists.'
And this week a video emerged in which Miss Bouattia could be seen apparently arguing that Palestinians should take up arms against Israel to end the country's occupation.
In the clip recorded 18 months ago, she said that the only reason Muslims failed to support the 'resistance' was 'internalised Islamaphobia' and 'anti-blackness'.
Controversial: Miss Bouattia is an outspoken activist who has consistently opposed 'Zionism'
Miss Bouattia said: 'To consider that Palestine will be free only by means of fundraising, non-violent protest and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is problematic.
'It can be misunderstood as the alternative to resistance by the Palestinian people.
'The notion of resistance has been perhaps washed out of our understanding of how colonised people will obtain their physical emancipation.
'Resistance is presented as an act of terrorism, but instead of us remembering that this has always been the case throughout struggles against white supremacy, it's become an accepted discourse amongst too many.'
Her election today was welcomed by Cage, a controversial human rights group whose director once described ISIS executioner Mohammed Emwazi as 'beautiful young man'.
The organisation tweeted: 'Congratulations to Malia Bouattia on being elected the NUS president!'
Miss Bouattia last week denied being anti-semitic after 57 leaders of Jewish university societies raised concerns about her remarks in an open letter.
'It seems I have been misrepresented,' she said. 'I am extremely uncomfortable with insinuations of anti-semitism.
'I celebrate the ability of people and students from all backgrounds to get together and express their backgrounds openly and positively, and will continue to do so.
'I want to be clear that for me to take issue with Zionist politics is not me taking issue with being Jewish.'
After her election, she said: 'My election was not just about NUS - it has to be about our society, and the role of our movement within it.
'We must ensure our union is at the centre of a national fight for something better, and puts liberation at the heart of all we do.'
Earlier today, the NUS conference in Brighton debated whether or not the union should mark Holocaust Memorial Day, with some speakers arguing that the NUS was 'ignoring and forgetting' other genocides.
'It suggests some lives are more important than others,' said Darta Kaleja from Chester University.
Outrage: MPs including Wes Streeting and Sir Eric Pickles spoke of their anger today
Support: The controversial human rights group Cage welcomed Miss Bouattia's election
Although the motion was eventually passed, the crowd loudly cheered the arguments against commemorating the Holocaust, prompting shock in some observers.
Labour MP John Mann said: 'The union is not doing enough to combat anti-Jewish hatred, and as such is failing in its responsibilities to its members.
'I am aghast at the new president's previous response to the concerns raised by Jewish students and expect her to meet their representatives and to build confidence that tackling anti-semitism in the NUS will be a priority.'
Wes Streeting, a former president of the NUS who is now Labour MP for Ilford North, argued that today's developments had damaged the union's reputation.
'NUS is lost I'm afraid,' he wrote on Twitter. 'It's had good leadership from Megan Dunn, but it no longer represents students well.'
Former minister Sir Eric Pickles added: 'There are some within the NUS that allow anti-semitism to flourish within their organisation.'
And Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander in Afghanistan, tweeted: 'Disgraceful yet predictable. Anti-semitic advocate of terrorist violence elected President of National Union of Students.'
Being president of the NUS has long been considered a springboard to high office, with the union's former leaders including Jack Straw, Charles Clarke, Jim Murphy and Trevor Phillips.
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