A University of Oxford college has been subject to scrutiny for allegedly cancelling a traditional St George's Day celebration and replacing it with a special banquet for Eid, for the second year in a row.

The Magdalen College has formerly held a formal dinner to mark the annual holiday, which falls on April 23 and honours St George, the patron saint of England. 

However, the college was accused of scrapping these plans last year despite having held St George's Day dinners at least every year between 2016 and 2019.

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The college has since been criticised for holding a banquet on April 21 for Eid, which marks the end of Ramadan, but not St George’s Day, according to national reports.

Critics say the college should be marking both - Eid, as well as Christian-linked festivals given its connection to Christianity.

However, despite the scrutiny, the college has previously denied there is a formal tradition of marking St George's Day. 

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The University of Oxford has stressed that all students and staff of all backgrounds are treated equally.

A statement on the university's official website responding to events in the Middle East says: “It has become regrettably clear that some of our students and staff have experienced or witnessed discriminatory behaviour within Oxford. 

'As a university, we will not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.”

The college has been contacted for comment by the Oxford Mail.