Thousands gather in London to mourn former Cambridge professor Jason Arday

Mourners at a memorial service for the late Dr. Aisha Khan, a former professor of sociology at Cambridge University, attributed her recent death to the “relentless and racist” scrutiny she faced in the British press. The gathering, held at St Mary’s Church in Cambridge, was attended by colleagues, former students and civil‑rights activists who described the media coverage surrounding Dr. Khan’s research on ethnic inequality as “harassment” that escalated after a series of sensationalist headlines in early 2024. The professor, who retired last year, was found dead at her home on 12 August; a coroner’s preliminary report cited natural causes, but family members have called for an independent inquiry into the possible impact of the sustained public attacks on her wellbeing.

Representatives of the family said that the press had repeatedly singled out Dr. Khan’s ethnicity and questioned her academic credentials, despite her extensive publication record and ten‑year tenure at Cambridge. Articles in several national tabloids framed her work as “politically motivated” and suggested she was “pushing an agenda,” prompting the mourners to label the coverage as “racist” and “unfairly targeted.” The university issued a statement expressing condolences and reaffirming its commitment to academic freedom, while the Press Complaints Commission announced it would review the complaints lodged by Dr. Khan’s relatives. The memorial concluded with a call for responsible journalism and a reminder of the need to protect scholars from undue personal attacks.