Oxford –(Palestine Foundation Information Center) — Arwa Hanin Al-Rais, a Palestinian student specializing in philosophy, politics, and economics, has been elected as the President of the Student Union at the University of Oxford.
According to the student-run newspaper of Oxford University, Arwa Hanin Al-Rais will serve as the Union’s president from April to June 2026.
Her father, Mohammad Al-Rais, celebrated her victory on social media, hailing her as the first Arab Palestinian and Algerian woman to hold the position.
The race for the Union presidency was highly competitive. Arwa Hanin Al-Rais received 757 votes, surpassing her closest competitor, Liza Barkova, by 155 votes.
Speaking to the university’s student newspaper, Arwa said, “The Union is a very special place facing extremely challenging circumstances. I believe we need a fresh start, affirming our position as a final stronghold of governance, financial responsibility, and freedom of expression.”
In addition to her Union activities, Arwa Hanin Al-Rais has been involved in producing a documentary offering an insider view of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK and has also contributed to the preparation of the project Kashmir to Oxford.
