London: Hizb ut-Tahrir barred from university debate

London: Hizb ut-Tahrir barred from university debate


The University of London has cancelled the appearance of a speaker from an Islamic group that opposes democracy and integration into British society.


A representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir was due to appear at Queen Mary college in east London to debate Sharia law in the modern world.


But the group was told it could not take part after students campaigned about its "blatantly
aggressive" views.


The university's union said the debate organisers acted to avoid controversy.


(..)


A union spokesman said the society's members were adamant Hizb ut-Tahrir would not use the event to "espouse hateful views", but decided to find a new speaker to avoid controversy.


But a spokesman for Student Rights said: "Hizb ut-Tahrir speakers have been known to condone suicide bombings and support Islamist movements which undertake terrorist acts such as Islamic Jihad.


"This can be frightening and intimidating for the student body."


He added: "On university campuses it is simply incomprehensible how such blatantly aggressive organisations can be invited to speak."


A Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman said: "By lobbying to stop this week's event those organisations seem to believe their inability to effectively counter our arguments gives them the right to stop others debating with us.


"Their actions only prove how empty their rhetoric on free speech and human rights is."


(more)

Source: BBC, h/t Islamophobia Watch