LONDON: In a historic election, Arwa Hanin Elrayess — a Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) student at the University of Oxford — has been elected President of the prestigious Oxford Union for the Trinity Term 2026, scheduled from April to June. The news was first reported by Cherwell, the university’s student-run newspaper.
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Arwa secured 757 votes, defeating her closest rival, Liza Barkova, by a margin of just 155 votes in what was described as a highly competitive race.
Celebrating his daughter’s achievement, Mohamed Elrayess wrote on LinkedIn that Arwa is now the first Arab woman, as well as the first Palestinian and Algerian, to be elected to this prominent position at one of the world’s oldest student debating societies.
The Oxford Union, known globally for its high-profile speaker events and debates, recently made headlines after an India-Pakistan debate where the Indian delegation abruptly withdrew, resulting in a win for the Pakistani side.
The Curious Case of Arwa Elrayess
Since the ousting of ‘sociopath’ George Abaraonye, Oxford Union has picked its first ‘Palestinian’ president; except she isn’t from ‘Palestine’.https://t.co/id0aIue3ae pic.twitter.com/5ECQl7ospr
— Karen Hunt aka KH Mezek (@karenalainehunt) December 2, 2025
Arwa campaigned on a platform focused on reforming the Union’s internal governance, stressing the need to separate institutional politics from the debates that define the organisation. She noted that internal conflicts in the current term had “overshadowed” the Union’s core mission.
In her statement to The Oxford Student, Arwa said,
“The Union is an incredibly special place, facing very difficult times. I think we need a fresh start with more transparent governance, financial responsibility, and to affirm our position as the last bastion of free speech.”
Beyond her work with the Union, Arwa contributed to the documentary Heart of a Protest, which explored pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK.
The Oxford Union has recently faced internal turbulence, with former presidents George Abaraonye and Moosa Harraj confronting no-confidence motions. Harraj, a Pakistani student, was the second from Pakistan to hold the presidency in under a year, following Israr Khan’s election in 2024.
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Pakistan continues to maintain representation in the Union’s leadership ranks, with Aitchison College alumnus Shahmir Aziz currently serving on the Secretary’s Committee.