A REVIEW at Essex University found some Jewish students and staff felt “intimidated and frightened” as a result of antisemitism.

A total of 33 recommendations have now been made to the university on how to tackle discrimination while leading figures admitted the university had faced a problem with antisemitism.

The controversy began earlier this year when a bid to create a Jewish society on campus was blocked when 200 students voted against it.

However, the voting was deemed void, a re-run cancelled and the society automatically ratified.

Computer science lecturer Dr Maaruf Ali was fired following a tribunal after he posted antisemitic material on Facebook - including a post saying “the Zionists next want to create a society here at our university”.

The university held an event to show support for the Jewish community and committed to a review to ensure they promoted equality and diversity.

A number of students and staff spoken to as part of the investigation said they had suffered from direct and casual antisemitism including some in public forums where no-one intervened.

Some recipients said they had been left intimidated and frightened and a number said they had not brought complaints forward fearing they would not be acted upon or perpetrators would not be sanctioned.

A total of 33 recommendations have been made and some have already been implemented including senior staff being proactive about emphasising equality, a programme of activities to increase interfaith understanding, ensuring celebrations for different faith groups are marked and considering implementing a Kosher kitchen on campus.

An independent external group advised on the process saying it could be used as a framework to tackle all discrimination.

In a joint statement the university’s chair of council Judith Judd, chair of council designate Jane Hamilton and university vice chancellor Anthony Forster said: “The university is a cosmopolitan, international university and we want to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in all its forms.“We have recognised we faced a problem of antisemitism and we want to thank the independent external group for its support and guidance in helping us face up to this.

“Our council and senate have unanimously endorsed this report and we will be implementing all 33 recommendations.

“There has been a great deal of institutional learning about what else we can and should do, to be inclusive and to ensure that the lived experiences of all our students and staff match the values of our university.

“We will continue to challenge ourselves.

“Our council has, therefore, agreed additional work should immediately be undertaken to review all areas where there could be discrimination.

“We want to ensure that we celebrate the diversity of all members of the university.”