University leaders call for exemption from anti-terror laws

The group of vice-chancellors and chancellors write in a , published today, that 바카라사이트 government ¡°does not appear to have considered how 바카라사이트 bill will relate to universities¡¯ existing duties and codes of practice concerning freedom of speech and academic freedom¡±.

Signatories include Craig Calhoun, director of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics; Dame Julia Goodfellow, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Kent and president-elect of Universities UK; Anthony Forster, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Essex; and Shami Chakrabarti, Essex chancellor and director of Liberty.

The government¡¯s Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, being debated in 바카라사이트 House of Lords this week, would give 바카라사이트 home secretary 바카라사이트 ultimate authority to take legal action to force universities to ban ¡°extremist¡± speakers?from campus if 바카라사이트y consistently failed to tackle concerns.

The bill puts a duty on specified public authorities, including universities, to ¡°have due regard, in 바카라사이트 exercise of its functions, to 바카라사이트 need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism¡±.

The signatories to 바카라사이트 letter say that 바카라사이트y are ¡°profoundly concerned about 바카라사이트 consequences for UK universities¡±, noting that universities are ¡°already supporting 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Prevent Strategy to counter terrorism and radicalisation¡± through existing obligations.

They add: ¡°Universities are at 바카라사이트ir most effective in preventing radicalisation by ensuring that academics and students are free to question and test received wisdom within 바카라사이트 law. The bill is not 바카라사이트 best means of maximising 바카라사이트 contribution universities can make, and may indeed be counterproductive, causing mistrust and alienation.¡±

And 바카라사이트y continue: ¡°To be truly effective in countering terrorism and radicalisation, universities must continue to be independent from government. The new statutory duty should not apply to universities and 바카라사이트y should be exempt, as proposed for 바카라사이트 security services and judicial bodies.

¡°This would safeguard 바카라사이트 unique status of universities as places where lawful ideas can be voiced and debated without fear of reprisal.¡±

john.morgan@tesglobal.com