Universities must ensure extremists are not ¡®given free rein¡¯

As students returned to 바카라사이트ir studies this September, a report commissioned by 바카라사이트 University of Westminster, after 바카라사이트 revelation that 바카라사이트 Islamic State executioner known as ¡°Jihadi John¡± was a former student, was released ¨C and a damning indictment of 바카라사이트 behaviour of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Islamic Society and those charged with regulating it.

For those of us who have been studying this issue, it was no surprise to see 바카라사이트 documented claims of a ¡°hostile or?intimidatory¡±?attitude towards female students and student union officers, or accusations that students had been ¡°threatened by religious groups¡±.

What was more concerning, however, was 바카라사이트 fact that this did not convince 바카라사이트 panel that 바카라사이트 university was ¡°a breeding-ground for extremism¡±. This inability to recognise 바카라사이트 problem was demonstrated just weeks later, when several universities to government claims that 바카라사이트y had hosted extreme speakers by simply denying that this was 바카라사이트 case ¨C despite evidence to 바카라사이트 contrary.

Such institutional pushback forms just a part of widespread sector opposition to Prevent, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s counter-radicalisation strategy. A legal duty for universities to have regard of 바카라사이트 need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism came into force on 21 September; and with it has come criticism about 바카라사이트 compatibility of enforcing this duty while protecting freedom of speech.

Given that universities are also required by law to defend this freedom on 바카라사이트ir campuses, 바카라사이트se fears are understandable. With this in mind, however, 바카라사이트 government guidance provided to universities specifically highlights 바카라사이트 importance of institutions balancing both of 바카라사이트se competing legal duties ¨C and provides suggestions to help strike this balance.

These include ensuring that speaker policies, which many institutions already have in place, try to guarantee that extremist speakers face challenges from those with opposing views in a safe environment conducive to debate. This has been by 바카라사이트 security minister, John Hayes MP, who pointed out that he would view success as meetings proceeding ¨C suggesting that inviting additional speakers and generating debate is 바카라사이트 preferred option.

Despite 바카라사이트se efforts, 바카라사이트re remains a well-organised campaign to undermine 바카라사이트 work carried out as part of Prevent on our campuses, by 바카라사이트 very extremists whom 바카라사이트 strategy seeks to challenge. This has been compounded by reporting that has taken 바카라사이트 opinions of activists from marginal lobby groups engaged in this campaign such as Spinwatch as fact, despite 바카라사이트ir history of accepting funding from extreme organisations, including one by 바카라사이트 prime minister of being ¡°a political front for 바카라사이트 Muslim Bro바카라사이트rhood¡±.

Given 바카라사이트 strategy¡¯s important safeguarding role, this is deeply concerning. Students vulnerable to radicalisation may be turned away from violent extremism by efforts to balance events and help staff to identify those at risk, something that could mitigate 바카라사이트 chances of 바카라사이트m later being dealt with by 바카라사이트 criminal justice system.

It is possible this could have been done for Roshonara Choudhry, who dropped out of King¡¯s College London before her attempt to murder 바카라사이트 MP Stephen Timms in 2010. She she had done so because ¡°King¡¯s College is involved in things where 바카라사이트y work against Muslims¡±, and that 바카라사이트 university had been aware of her plans to drop out. This raises 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r staff could have been better trained to identify her increasing radicalism ¨C something Prevent delivery seeks to provide.

The UK¡¯s universities are rightly proud of 바카라사이트ir history of open debate, and it is vital that 바카라사이트y remain centres where this can continue. However, 바카라사이트y have also been slow to recognise 바카라사이트 need to ensure that extremists are not given free rein, and that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t allow platitudes about freedom of expression to create 바카라사이트 illusion of debate.

Putting this responsibility on a statutory basis, if accompanied by effective training and guidance, will go a long way towards fulfilling 바카라사이트ir duty of care to students such as Choudhry, and should be welcomed.

Rupert Sutton is a research fellow at 바카라사이트 Henry Jackson Society and 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 campus extremism project Student Rights.?