U.K. MuslimsU.K. university suspends Islamic society over hosting hate speakers
Queen Mary University of London has suspended the Islamic society at the university after the students’ union has launched an investigation into possible violations of protocols and procedures by the society. the society has been accused in the past of hosting events in which radical Islamist speakers, including speakers associated with Islamist fundamentalist groups. The U.K. government said that at least seventy events featuring hate speakers were held on U.K. campuses last year.
Device arms of Queen Mary University // Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Queen Mary University of London has suspended the Islamic society at the university after the students’ union has launched an investigation into possible violations of protocols and procedures by the society.
The society said on its Facebook page that it was not unaware of the information that led to the investigation, and it was now working with the students’ union “to gain better clarity.”
The East London Advertiser reports that the society has been accused in the past of hosting events in which radical Islamist speakers, including speakers associated with Islamist fundamentalist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, whose stated goal is to establish a global Islamic state ruled according to sharia law.
A university spokesperson said: “Queen Mary students’ union has suspended the Islamic society (ISOC) while it investigates claims that ISOC breached agreed protocols and procedures. Further information will be available following the conclusion of the investigation.”
In its Facebook post, ISOC criticized what it called “hysteria,” saying: “It is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that we regret to inform you that the Queen Mary Islamic Society has been temporarily suspended.”
It added: “The ISOC is currently appealing this decision and can hopefully resolve any issues to allow the great work to continue InshaaAllah!”
The Guardian reports that in September the government told the National Union of Students (NUS) to abandon NUS opposition to the government’s Prevent strategy, an educational and community-based strategy aiming to counter extremism in England and Wales. The government has created a unit for the analysis of extremism, and one of the unit’s first reports said that at least seventy events featuring hate speakers were held on U.K. campuses last year.
The NUS has called for a boycott of Prevent and other government’s counter-radicalization programs, claiming such programs violate student rights.
