Western Resistance: UK: University Embroiled in Hizb ut-Tahrir Dispute

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September 22, 2005

UK: University Embroiled in Hizb ut-Tahrir Dispute

We mentioned earlier the potential problems of radical extremists in British Universities. Since that was written, I notice the situation has moved on. Two days ago, the Guardian reported that Middlesex University, my former Alma Mater, was embroiled in a controversy with its Student Union.

The Student Union decided to invite representatives of extremist Islamists Hizb ut-Tahrir to the university at the Hendon campus, to debate issues of radicalism, later this month, on 28 Sept. However, Michael Driscoll, university vice-chancellor, ordered the SU to abandon its question and answer session following the recommendations made by Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary. Keith Shilson, the SU president at Middlesex had intended to have the re-fixed discussion in the idyllic setting of Trent Park, but the University still has ownership of this faculty and its surrounds. The National Union of Students (NUS) has already banned Hizb ut-Tahrir from its unions because of their support for terrorism and "publishing material that incites racial hatred".

Yesterday the Guardian announced that Keith Shilson had been suspended by the universit as SU president, and his studentship revoked until further notice. He had been escorted by security officials from university grounds. The Student Union issued a statement in which it announced that the scheduled meeting is now cancelled. Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Imran Waheed condemned the actions against Shilson as "McCarthyist" and claimed they had wide implications for political expression and dissent in other UK universities.

Imran Waheed continues:

"Muslim students want to be able to engage in legitimate political expression at universities without fear of being branded 'extremist'. It appears that the university is intent on silencing legitimate political dissent about western foreign policy and western support for dictators in the Muslim world. This is in itself a form of extremism."

When I attended Middlesex University (then known as Middlesex Polytechnic) the Student Union president was imprisoned for trafficking in stolen goods. Islam was never an issue. But in another report on the life of students, again from the Guardian, a survey has shown that many Muslim students feel alienated, since the London bombings of 7/7. The survey, conducted among 446 Muslim students and recent graduates, found that only 72% would inform the police if they knew an associate was planning a terrorist attack. 62% believed that through its foreign policy, Britain had helped make 7/7 happen.

Wakkas Khan, the president of FOSIS (The Federation of Student Islamic Societies), stated that there were issues of trust involved, that made it hard for Muslims to know who to tell and who to trust when reporting potential terrorism. He suggested the police and Muslim communities should work harder to bridge that gap of trust. Faisal Hanjra of FOSIS, who helped compile the report, said:

"The recent media hype about extremism on campus has already done its damage, thanks to unfounded allegations linking 'Islamism' with individual universities.

We are urging the government and university authorities to tackle this issue more sensitively. Muslim students in fact play a positive and active contribution towards British society with one in two Muslim students actively involved in voluntary work"

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 22, 2005 8:10 AM