LEEDS, UK — A long-serving Muslim chaplain at the University of Leeds has stepped down from her position, citing a profound misalignment of values following a mounting campus crisis over the reinstatement of a Jewish chaplain who recently served with the Israeli military in Gaza.
Farhat Yaqoob, who has served as the university’s Muslim chaplain since 2014, announced her resignation through a statement shared by the Leeds University Union Islamic Society. Her departure comes amid weeks of escalating student activism, sit-ins, and public outcry over the return of Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch to campus following his deployment with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
In her resignation statement, Yaqoob expressed deep sorrow over her decision to leave a role she has held for nearly a decade, explaining that the current institutional climate on campus had made it untenable for her to continue.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this message to you all. But I need to share the news that I will be standing down in my role as the Muslim Chaplain," Yaqoob wrote. "My faith makes me a better human being and a better chaplain, and I should never apologise for that. I have witnessed that social justice is an integral part of everyone’s duty of care… Based on the current climate, especially since the international events around early October 2023, I have struggled to find those fundamental values lived out here on campus in the way that I feel works in harmony with me. It is becoming extremely challenging for me to stay on as chaplain."
The announcement drew an immediate and emotional response from the student body and the university’s Islamic Society. In a tribute posted to Instagram, student representatives praised Yaqoob’s enduring dedication to the campus community throughout her tenure.
"She has worked tirelessly in her time to bring unity to campus, through mentoring students and being a light to us all in some of our darkest times," the Islamic Society stated. "She has been and will always be someone who strengthens and supports our community and has been a person of safety in some of the most unsafe times, for that we will forever be grateful."
The resignation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions at the University of Leeds, which have gripped the campus since the turn of the year. The controversy centers on Rabbi Zecharia Deutsch, a rabbinical emissary who has served as the Jewish chaplain for universities across the Yorkshire region under the auspices of the Universities Jewish Chaplaincy (UJC) since 2021.
Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Rabbi Deutsch traveled to Israel to serve in the IDF reserve forces. During his deployment, images and video footage circulated widely online showing Deutsch in military uniform. In one widely shared video clip published by Middle East Eye, Deutsch can be heard defending the military campaign, stating: "There is so much confusion going on and it’s so clear that there is evil and there is good. And what Israel is trying to do is destroy the evil, which is the most moral thing possible."
Since Deutsch resumed his chaplaincy duties at Leeds in January, a strong wave of opposition has emerged among pro-Palestine student groups and broader campus networks. Critics have raised alarms over his active participation in a military campaign that has faced severe international condemnation. According to local health authorities, the ongoing IDF offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 30,500 Palestinians—a toll that includes more than 13,000 children and nearly 9,000 women—alongside tens of thousands of injuries. The military actions have triggered international legal battles, most notably South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice on accusations of violating the Genocide Convention.
The return of Rabbi Deutsch to the university environment sparked intense anxiety among Muslim and pro-Palestine students, who argued that employing an active participant in the Gaza conflict compromises the safety and well-being of the student body. As protests intensified and public pressure mounted, reports emerged indicating that Rabbi Deutsch and his wife, Nava, had temporarily gone into hiding after receiving various threats.
The grassroots opposition has manifested in multiple forms of protest across the university grounds. A petition launched on Change.org demanding the immediate dismissal of Deutsch from the University of Leeds quickly garnered significant traction, surpassing 12,000 signatures. Furthermore, dozens of students escalated their campaign by staging an occupation and sit-in inside a section of the university’s historic Parkinson Building, marking the peak of weeks of demonstrations.
External advocacy groups have also intervened in the dispute. The Muslim Association of Britain publicly challenged the university administration on social media platform X, writing: "Why have you allowed Zechariah Deutsch to return to the university as a chaplain after serving in the IDF? You have a duty of care towards your students to ensure their safety at all times. How can your students feel safe with a war criminal complicit in genocide roaming your campus?"
Students participating in the Parkinson Building sit-in spoke to media representatives, asserting that the campus climate had deteriorated into an unsafe and hostile space for Muslim students, while expressing frustration over what they perceived as misrepresentation in mainstream media coverage.
In response to the mounting controversy, the University of Leeds issued a comprehensive statement addressing both the student protests and the departure of the Muslim chaplain. A university spokesperson emphasized the institution’s commitment to balancing freedom of speech with the safety and pastoral care of its diverse academic community.
"As a diverse community of more than 39,000 students from 137 countries, we work hard to uphold freedom of speech for all and to ensure that the different experiences and perspectives of all in our community can be heard," the spokesperson stated. "The University has a legal duty to support free speech and peaceful expressions of views within the law, and has facilitated numerous authorised vigils and protests. We absolutely condemn all antisemitism, Islamophobia, harassment and abuse and would always take action against it."
The administration sought to reassure staff and students that addressing concerns related to Islamophobia remained a top priority alongside combating antisemitism. "Our recent statement in response to antisemitic incidents in no way diminishes the experience of our Muslim staff and students. Islamophobia and antisemitism are equally abhorrent and have no place at the University of Leeds. We know that many of our Muslim staff and students are finding this to be an incredibly difficult time with many experiencing significant anguish and upset. We are meeting regularly to continue to listen, discuss and identify how we can continue to provide further support and address their ongoing concerns."
Addressing the departure of Farhat Yaqoob, the university expressed regret and gratitude for her long-standing contributions. "We are saddened that Sister Farhat will be standing down from her role with us, and wish to thank her sincerely for her significant support for our Muslim students and staff as well as our wider community at Leeds over the past nine years of her service. The University will continue to ensure they receive the invaluable spiritual and pastoral support provided by the Muslim chaplaincy."
Regarding the status of the Jewish chaplain, the university clarified his institutional relationship, noting that employment arrangements lie with an external body. "Rabbi Deutsch is employed by the UJC to support Jewish students in Leeds and at other universities in the Yorkshire region. The University remains in close contact with the UJC to discuss how it supports his work, and ensure we are sensitive to the diverse perspectives of our community."