Arwa Hanin Elrayess has made history after winning the Oxford Union presidency for the Trinity term 2026, as reported by student newspaper Cherwell. The philosophy, politics, and economics student secured 757 votes, defeating rival candidate Liza Barkova by a margin of 155.
Her father, Mohamed Elrayess, celebrated the milestone on LinkedIn, highlighting that she is the first Arab woman, and the first Palestinian and Algerian, to be elected to the prestigious position.
Elrayess campaigned on a promise to restore stability to the Oxford Union, arguing that internal conflicts had overshadowed the organization’s purpose as a major debating platform. She vowed to separate internal governance disputes from upcoming debates.
The Oxford Union is one of the world’s most renowned student-led debating societies, regularly hosting influential global speakers. Earlier this year, a high-profile debate on India-Pakistan relations gained attention when the Indian delegation withdrew at the last moment.
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In an interview, Arwa said the Union was in “very difficult times” and needed a fresh direction, prioritizing transparency, financial discipline, and its identity as a space for free speech. She has previously contributed to the documentary Heart of a Protest, which examined pro-Palestine activism in the UK.
The Union has experienced rising tensions in recent terms, with former presidents George Abaraonye and Moosa Harraj facing no-confidence motions. Harraj, a Pakistani student, became the Union’s second Pakistani president in a year, following Israr Khan in 2024. Pakistani representation continues through Aitchison College graduate Shahmir Aziz, who is currently part of the Secretary’s Committee.
