Is extremism putting free speech in UK universities under threat?

Reuters

The University of Oxford had to cancel a debate on abortion last year because people objected that both panelists were male.

Concern that the Islamic State militant 'Jihadi John' may have been radicalised while attending a London university has re-stoked the debate about free speech in academic institutions.

Mohammed Emwazi was last week identified as the IS militant who has appeared in numerous beheading videos for IS. Emwazi attended the University of Westminster between 2006 and 2009. Former students have told the press that the university "created a hostile environment towards non-Muslims" and that it was heavily reliant on the income from foreign students, many of whom were Muslim, and so did not sufficiently scrutinise those invited to speak there.

The university has strongly defended the claims. And although the concerns may not prove true, they have prompted the institution to suspend all student events of a "sensitive" nature.

These fears come amid an ongoing debate about the freedom of expression at British universities and it doesn't just apply to religious groups. Recent cases include Oxford University cancelling a debate on abortion last year because people objected to the fact it was being debated by two men. And among the more bizarre examples are Birmingham University's ban on sombreros because they were deemed "racist" and UCL's student union banning the Nietzsche reading group.

Concerns were raised earlier this year by both academics and religious groups about the potential effect of the new Counter-Terrorism and Security Act. Guidance accompanying the Bill, which was issued in January, said universities would have to monitor groups on campus and vet talks and speakers.

While most Christians would support attempts to crack down on radicalisation, there were fears that this could have a negative impact on Christian unions and evangelical organisations hosting events at British universities.

The Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) said at the time the Bill was being debated that although they supported government efforts to combat terrorism, there needed to be a distinction between Islamist radicalisation and the work of Christian unions. "The basic tenets of the Christian faith have nothing to do with terrorism, so what possible justification can there be for jeopardising time-honoured freedoms in an attempt to counter Islamist threats?" the chairman of the board of trustees John Lenton and director Richard Cunningham said in a joint statement.

Academics also saidin February that the proposed legislation was a threat to freedom of speech and would place an "unenforceable duty on educational institutions". The government responded to these concerns, and proposed amendments to protect the freedom of expression in universities.

View post:
Is extremism putting free speech in UK universities under threat?