The prejudgements that led to a tragic end
Date: 15 August 2026
A blog by Khaled Noor, barrister and activist
Professor Jason Arday’s tragic and unexpected death raises many important questions, including the role of mainstream and social media, societal attitudes towards Black people and Muslims, and the wider racial dynamics within academia and public life.
While it is entirely legitimate for the media and institutions to investigate and challenge unethical practices — whether in academia or public life — such scrutiny must be conducted responsibly, proportionately, and ethically. It must also be free from prejudice, bias, and double standards.
We are living through an increasingly polarised world in which moral standards can appear to be applied selectively. Too often, principles that should be universal — accountability, equality, dignity, respect for the rule of law, and adherence to international norms—appear to be invoked when convenient and disregarded when they are not.
This growing culture of double standards risks undermining public trust, academic integrity, and the very foundations of a fair and civilised society.
Public disagreement and legitimate criticism can coexist with dignity and respect. However, when criticism crosses the line into humiliation, harassment, intimidation, personal vilification, or a sustained campaign to damage someone’s reputation, the ethical nature of the debate changes considerably. What should be an objective examination of evidence and conduct can instead become something much more subjective, in which assumptions, prejudice, and unequal standards influence how individuals are judged.
This raises a broader question about meritocracy itself. If standards of judgement are applied inconsistently — or are shaped by racial, cultural, or other forms of prejudice — then the principle of meritocracy is undermined. The concern is not that individuals should be protected from legitimate scrutiny or accountability, but that the same standards of scrutiny and accountability should apply to everyone, regardless of race, background, religion, status, or political position.
As sociologist Paul Gilroy and other Black academics have argued, there are legitimate concerns about how the controversy surrounding Professor Arday may have affected the wider environment for Black academics. Gilroy has argued that both unconditional defenders and racist critics can, in different ways, contribute to making life more difficult for Black academics and further damaging the reputation of UK higher education. Paul Gilroy said:
“The unthinking culture warriors who have supported [Arday] unconditionally share responsibility with his racist critics for making life harder for Black academics and dragging UK higher education deeper into the mire.” [1]
There should be a broader public debate and robust discussion involving academia, policymakers, civil society organisations, and other relevant stakeholders. Such a discussion should examine not only the specific circumstances surrounding Professor Arday’s case, but also the wider culture, practices, and standards within academic institutions and public discourse.
This Arday Affair should therefore prompt not only reflection on the circumstances surrounding his passing, but also a much wider conversation about how we treat one another when disagreement, criticism, and accountability intersect with questions of race, identity, power, dignity, and institutional responsibility.
[1] “Old racist wine in a new bottle’: Black academics respond to Jason Arday affair”, The Guardian, 8 August 2026.
Khaled Noor, 15 August 2026, London
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