FREE SPEECH at York could fall victim to new restrictions introduced in the wake of the botched Christmas Day airline attack.
Would-be bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab reportedly was a student at UCL when he was recruited by Al Quaeda. This revelation has sparked debate about the presence of radicalisation in other UK Universities.
York Vice Chancellor Brian Cantor is a member of the Universities UK (UUK) group, which has been quick to respond to this perceived threat by setting up a panel to tackle violent extremism on campus.
A York University spokeman said:”The decision by UUK to establish a working group, to examine how universities can best protect academic freedom while taking appropriate action to prevent violent extremism, is a helpful development’.
He added that the issue of campus radicalisation was “not the case in York”.
One third year campus activist commented; “This whole issue has been blown completely out of proportion, most of the lectures and discussions organised on campuses, especially in the University of York, are really friendly and tend to promote messages of peace rather than extremism.”
Sam Westrop, Chair of York Freedom society also raised his concerns: “Nothing will further yet more dangerous radicalisation than the proscription of free speech – the very principles that radical Islamist groups seek to destroy.”
The future remains uncertain for freedom of speech on UK campuses, and with fresh allegations of LSE senior lecturer Reza Pankhurst’s links with radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir, the debate still continues.