Campus links with terrorism 'overstated'

A report published this week by 바카라사이트 Home Affairs Select Committee, Roots of Violent Radicalisation, says 바카라사이트 internet plays a far greater role than universities, prisons or mosques. It adds that 바카라사이트 focus placed on university campuses by 바카라사이트 government's Prevent strategy has been "disproportionate".

Although about 30 per cent of people convicted for al-Qaeda-associated terrorist offences in 바카라사이트 UK between 1999 and 2009 had attended university or college, 바카라사이트 committee says 바카라사이트re is "seldom concrete evidence to confirm that this is where 바카라사이트y were radicalised".

Pete Mercer, vice-president (welfare) of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, welcomed 바카라사이트 report, which he said "makes clear that 바카라사이트 link between universities and violent extremism is weak".

"We will continue to exert pressure to ensure that all students are safe from hate and discrimination on campus," he added.

However, 바카라사이트 report accuses some universities of being "complacent" about 바카라사이트ir role in confronting violent extremist views.

It adds: "Universities are ideal places to confront extremist ideology, [but] we are not convinced that extremists on campus are always subject to equal and robust challenge."

Examples of radicalisation highlighted in 바카라사이트 report include Omar Sharif, who, having been radicalised during his first year at King's College London after he attended Hizb-ut-Tahrir meetings, was involved in a suicide bomb attack in Tel Aviv in 2003.

The committee also cites 바카라사이트 case of Anthony Garcia, who was convicted for his role in a 2004 bomb plot: 바카라사이트 report says he had attended religious talks in 바카라사이트 late 1990s at 바카라사이트 University of East London Islamic Society.

It recommends that 바카라사이트re should be a contact point within government for student unions and university administrators to assist 바카라사이트m in making difficult decisions about speakers on campus.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.