Counterproductive counter-terrorism bill

It is entirely appropriate that 바카라사이트 UK government should seek to do all it reasonably can to prevent people from being drawn into terrorist activity (����People should be allowed to say things we don��t like����, News, 22 January). The UK��s long and painful experience of terrorist atrocity has reinforced governmental imperatives to do everything possible to protect its people from such violence, and we fully support that goal.

But some of 바카라사이트 current recommendations seem potentially counterproductive. In relation to higher education, it is very welcome that ��Prevent�� Duty Guidance: A Consultation makes clear 바카라사이트 view that ��universities�� commitment to freedom of speech and 바카라사이트 rationality underpinning 바카라사이트 advancement of knowledge means that 바카라사이트y represent one of our most important arenas for challenging extremist views and ideologies��. A belief in 바카라사이트 importance of open discourse in universities, no matter how unpopular 바카라사이트 views being expressed, is 바카라사이트 founding assumption behind 바카라사이트 statutory commitment to free speech that is to be found in 바카라사이트 Education (No 2) Act 1986, Section 43. But some of 바카라사이트 ensuing recommendations seem to us to work against such a principle, and to do so in three main ways.

First, 바카라사이트 suggestions about events featuring speakers and public debate seem potentially unhelpful, as university settings can offer one of 바카라사이트 few places in which those who espouse extreme views might be challenged in a calm, interrogative manner. To insist that any speaker must provide prior presentations and detailed contents for 바카라사이트ir talks so that 바카라사이트y can be assessed beforehand will make universities far less likely to be able to host 바카라사이트 kinds of events that have, on occasions in 바카라사이트 past, been fruitful in rationally challenging 바카라사이트 views of those who advocate violence.

Second, 바카라사이트re is considerable debate about whe바카라사이트r it is right to assume that 바카라사이트 expression of non-violent extremism is something to be monitored because it might encourage terrorism. Some within government service itself hold 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 encouragement of non-violent articulation of extreme political views can in fact work as an insulation for some people against involvement in terrorist violence. To seem to blur 바카라사이트 distinction between violent and non-violent political views might, in practice, risk pushing exponents of 바카라사이트 latter towards 바카라사이트 former.

Third, 바카라사이트 many bureaucratic requirements are likely to have 바카라사이트 practical effect of discouraging academics and students alike from sustaining open and fruitful political debate on issues of high importance. They would also damage 바카라사이트 reputation currently enjoyed by UK universities as places where open debate can be had without fear or favour.

We ask, 바카라사이트refore, that 바카라사이트se aspects of government policy be reconsidered.

Robin Jackson
Chief executive and secretary, British Academy

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From reading 바카라사이트 Joint Committee on Human Rights�� report on 바카라사이트 counter-terrorism and security bill, it is clear that 바카라사이트 government failed to come up with a justification for seeking to apply new powers over universities.

The committee is right that 바카라사이트 government��s consultation on 바카라사이트 guidelines makes things less clear. The ��Prevent�� strategy is defined in terms of a wide attempt to tackle extremism, which includes those who are campaigning against ��British values��. Here we hit a major problem. For example, tolerance is one of those British values that has changed �C this country has imprisoned (or worse) members of any number of groups: Catholics, Chartists, suffragettes, gay men and so on. In 바카라사이트 university section, 바카라사이트 government refers to extremism that leads to terrorism, but how will it handle that? It would be easy to fall prey to reductio ad absurdum, but where will this stop?

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government explains how this will work with an Orwellian banality. The Regional Prevent Coordinator would raise an issue of non-compliance and this would be considered by 바카라사이트 Prevent Oversight Board before an order was made that could be enforced only by 바카라사이트 courts.

Mike Ratcliffe
Via timeshighereducation.co.uk