Patrick Cullen
11th December 2007
The LSE is preparing a policy document dealing with the possibility of on-campus extremism. However, the School appears eager to tread lightly and protect freedom of expression at LSE, despite Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent plea to universities to examine their anti-extremism policies.
Brown recently reiterated Tony Blair’s warning to universities that they “must act against extremist influences”, drawing on a Brunel University Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies report which claimed that universities had been widely infiltrated by extremist Islamic groups.
Professor Anthony Glees, the author of the report, based this claim on a historical analysis of student terrorism. Glees told Reuters that the current situation was worse than he had previously thought, declaring that “What we have seen since 2005 has been an increase in the number of students and former students involved in terrorist crimes.”
In answer to the Government’s insistence that universities keep watch on the activities of their Islamic Societies, a School spokesperson told The Beaver that “The School’s Memorandum and Articles of Association states that ‘Every Governor, Council Member, officer and employee of the Company, and every student and other individual associated with the Company, shall be entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, to hold opinions without interference, disability or disadvantage, and to freedom of expression within the law, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds’.” The LSE is currently preparing a report on extremism on campus.
When asked, however, about other forms of extremism, such as the activities of the Animal Liberation Front, Combat 18, or the Communist Party of Great Britain, the School refused to comment. Neither the Director nor Security staff would answer The Beaver’s questions regarding such groups. Further, no-one would comment about the Jewish Chronicle’s assertation that anti-Semitism is on the rise, although the School has recently approached students about this issue.
A spokesperson from the LSE Students’ Union (LSESU) Islamic Society told The Beaver they “unequivocally” condemn “any group which tries to incite racial or religious hatred, particularly when those groups attempt to commit acts of terrorism in the name of Islam.”
“However, the Government must be cautious in its’ attempts to combat extremism on campus, they are in danger of promoting suspicion of all Muslim students…this is a potentially dangerous and counterproductive approach…we should be encouraging further engagement, dialogue and cooperation” the statement added.
Ziyaad Lunat, chair of the LSESU Palestinian Society, told The Beaver that “Dissemination of extremist views on campuses is unacceptable. There is agreement that a problem exists but there are differences on how it should be tackled. I believe that raising a climate of suspicion amongst students is counter productive and it may contribute to further entrenchment of bigoted views in our campuses.”
He added, “The best way for the government to tackle the dissemination of extremist views is by dealing with the root of the matter…Strengthening democratic principles at home and abroad through the fair implementation of international law and human rights is the way forward.” Lunat went on to say that the Government should stop “applying double standards” and refrain from “unilateral war mongering policies”.
Fadhil Bakeer Markar, LSESU General Secretary, said, “LSE students approved a motion this time last year against the government proposals to tackle extremism on campus. LSE has always been a place which shares different cultures, a place which celebrates diversity…We reject proposals to spy on our students, and such statements from politicians do nothing productive to foster [the] spirit of community or inclusion that is needed to combat threats of terrorism.”