Radical Islamist leaders have preached to students at almost 200 official university events in Britain over the past year, a study by anti-extremist group Student Rights has revealed.
Extreme
The study found that talks were given by speakers with a “history of extreme or intolerant views” at a total of 60 institutions, including Cambridge and University College London (UCL), in the year to March 2013.
At least a quarter of the events – held by Islamic societies at 21 universities – had segregated seating for male and female students.
Some of the lecturers have been known to advocate jihad against non-Muslims, gaining their inspiration from radicals such as Abu Qatada, Anwar al-Awlaki and Abu Hamza al-Masri.
Suspect
One speaker, Hamza Tzortzis, reportedly appeared on a British YouTube channel followed by the Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev.
He was formerly a member of radical group Hizb ut-Tahrir, and has previously been reported as saying: “We as Muslims reject the idea of freedom of speech, and even the idea of freedom.”
Another speaker, Dr Khalid, has allegedly defended convicted terrorists and recently called for the legalisation of polygamy whilst addressing the Islamic Society of Westminiser University.
Failing
Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert consulted by the All-Party Parliamentary Homeland Security Group said:“Clearly, there’s a failing in our higher-education system.”
He added: “We can, and should, stop radicalisation on campus by extremists who believe in segregation, otherwise more students and graduates will eventually embrace terror. Terrorists are not born, they are made.”
Both UCL and Leicester University have launched an investigation into segregated seating reported at meetings held by their Islamic Societies. However, Student Rights has said that the practice is more widespread across the UK, despite being prohibited by university rules.
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