 LONDON — Teaching staff at various universities and colleges in Britain oppose the government order to report the activities of Muslim students who could be suspected of Islamic radicalism.
The Department for Education and Skills has asked higher education staff to report about "suspects" in the classes as a mean to stem terrorism on campuses. The annual conference of the University and College Union (UCU) passed a motion against the government order. Supporters of the motion say though they would report illegal activity, they cannot act as detectives.
| They didn't ask you to act as detectives, they asked you to report illegal and suspicious activity. |
The motion, put forward by university lecturers in London, warns that such a move would damage the trust between staff and students.
| What about the students who would feel safer if the crazies were reported? |
In November, the government warned of the dangers posed by what it described as the serious threat posed by radical Muslims. However, many lecturers are unhappy about the role of monitoring, describing it as Islamophobia and a witch-hunt.
| Totally forgotten about 9/11. Or they never cared to begin with. |
The Department for Education and Skills insists the new guidance is not about targeting Muslim students and says it decided to issue the advice after discussions with universities, Muslim students and law enforcement agencies.
"Academic freedom is something they hold very close to their hearts, it is an absolute key to their profession," Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU which represents 120,000 college staff, told BBC. "You cannot make it possible for students to explore ideas, if, at the same time, you prescribe how they do that."
| It's really hard to have academic freedom if you're afraid someone's going to pull the string on a boom vest, or shoot up the tube station. |
When the government advice was issued, a statement from the National Union of Students, University College Union, Unison, the Federation of Student Islamic Societies and the Equality Challenge Unit said: "Any implementation should recognise that demonising Muslims is unacceptable and dangerous — whether in educational institutions or in communities.
"Students and staff should be assured by their institutions that there is no intention of adding to a climate of Islamophobia."
| 'Islamophobia' is a code phrase for "we don't want to be involved." Invoke it and you're justified doing nothing. |
Universities UK said violence had no place on university campuses but also hit out at the singling out of Muslims as a group in the guidance. It pointed out that its earlier guidance on tackling the issue focused on "all kinds of extremism, not just extremism in the name of Islam".
| If you encounter suspicious activity by a group of radicalized, violent Quakers, by all means phone it in. |
"Universities are some of the most diverse communities in the UK, and work hard to ensure community cohesion on campus across all faiths and racial groups," the university umbrella group said in a statement.
| Unless you're a Christian or a conservative. Try it in the U.S. and see. |
UCU joint general secretary Paul Mackney said universities needed straight-forward procedures on what to do if anyone suspects violent extremism or terrorist activity. He added: "But radicalism must not be conflated with terrorism. Institutions must maintain a moderating environment where discussion flourishes."
Except if that discussion offends someone.
This is an idiotic issue. No one in the Brit government is trying to suppress speech, and the local anarchists will remain free to blabber their goofy spew. But amongst the many decent folk at a typical university are a few that are using said institution as a cover for activities that aren't generally synonymous with education, such as bombings, revolution and terrorism. It's not a sin to call the authorities when you suspect those things. It's really not. |
Intelligence and security expert Professor Anthony Glees, who published a report last year warning of the risks of students being radicalised, said he believed there should be far more checks on students from abroad. The BBC earlier reported that the radicalisation of students by Islamist groups was a growing problem on some university campuses. Senior academics warned that the authorities were doing little to tackle the problem.
But the Federation of Student Islamic Societies insists radicalism is not widespread.
| Of course he insists that. He's on the other side! |
Head of student affairs Faisal Hanjra said he believed such a step was not generally useful because it tended to exaggerate the threat and blow the issue out of proportion. |