Muslim students are demanding their embassies lobby City University to overturn a ban on them using their prayer room.
The University, which has students from Muslim countries including Bangladesh, Iran and Pakistan, padlocked the prayer room on Whiskin Street because of security concerns after six Muslim students were attacked in November.
Hundreds of male members of the Islamic Society (ISoc) have been gathering twice a day to pray in Northampton Square in protest. Up to 400 students have been attending sermons in the square during Friday prayers.
The University have offered the students space in a multi-faith prayer room, but the students say they cannot use a space that is shared by all faiths.
In a statement on the Muslim students campaign website it said: “We Muslims are still stranded in the middle of nowhere without a dedicated place to pray, and it seems the university don’t want to change their stance.”
Saleh Patel, president of the City University Islamic Society (ISoc), said: “We have tried dialogue but the University say they are always busy. We are hoping that they will listen to international students. We want them to ask their embassies to contact the University. We also want students’ parents to ring the University, showing character and patience. We hope to resolve this with dialogue if they let us speak to them.
Patel said they were not currently seeking to take legal action, but in a statement on the campaign website it says: “It may be the case that we need to take further steps if the university do not feel it is necessary to provide for the needs of the Muslims.”
A spokeswoman for City University said: “The University is continuing to meet with the Students’ Union, discussing the space and in response to the Students’ Union City Islamic Society’s request for bigger capacity for Friday prayers, has made the Great Hall available.
“The space was created in consultation with a number of different sources including Equality and Diversity guidelines; the University Values; Muslim scholars and in line with what many other higher education institutes are providing. The University has not received any complaints from any embassies. The quiet zone is designed to be a shared space to be used by all those who wish to reflect whilst working or studying on campus.
“The University has taken guidance from the Police Safer Neighbourhoods team, and it supports the University’s decision to have the space in a more central area of the University.”