A Whitehall report seen by the Daily Mail before its publication paints an alarming picture of the propagation of Islamic extremism on UK university campuses.
Islamic terrorists who have been convicted in recent years have attended British universities. Among them are Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who attended University College London before trying to blow up a transatlantic flight in 2009, and Abdulla Ahmed Ali, an engineering graduate from City University who led a plot to blow up transatlantic flights in 2006 using bombs disguised as drinks.
According to the report, at least 30% of those convicted of Al-Qaeda-associated terrorist crimes in Britain have attended a university or higher education institution.
Theresa May, the Home Secretary, has spoken out about Islamic student groups which promote extremism in UK universities. In an interview with The Telegraph, Mrs May said “I think for too long there’s been complacency around universities. I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.”
She called on the Federation of Islamic Student Societies to be more forthright in condemning student groups which support extremism or host extremist speakers.
The comments come just before the Government’s updated counter-terrorism strategy is published later in the week.
Mrs May also made reference to British values and the need that exists for groups to adhere to those values. She said: “We are looking at a set of values we believe we have here in the UK and those people opposed to those values are people who the Government won’t be funding or engaging with.”
In response to the news, Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern, said:
“The reputation of UK universities as places of open-minded enquiry and discussion has been abused by these extremist Islamic groups who promote an ideology which is completely at odds with British values.
“However, these values cannot be assumed but must be clearly articulated and in doing so it becomes apparent that freedom, equality before the law, tolerance and safety from harm are all rooted in Britain’s Christian heritage.”
Written by Peter Norris
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