Thou shalt not challenge mohammedan ideology
Greer ban at university ‘is to seem fair to Muslims’: Vince Cable warns feminists and right-wingers will be censored to prove institutions are not ‘anti-Islamic’
- Government’s Prevent strategy will make universities feel compelled to censor ‘extreme’ views to prove they are not ‘anti-Islamic’, Cable warns
- He said that some speakers were already being given hostile receptions
- Nigel Farage cancelled an appearance at Cambridge following protests
- Petition was set up to stop feminist Germaine Greer speaking at Cardiff
- Ex-business secretary said suppressing extreme views was ‘dangerous’
Warning: Universities will ban feminists, Right-wing politicians and other controversial speakers to appear fair on Muslims, Vince Cable has warned
Universities will ban feminists, Right-wing politicians and other controversial speakers to appear fair on Muslims, Vince Cable has warned.
The ex-business secretary said the Prevent strategy would make institutions feel compelled to censor all ‘extreme’ views to prove that they are not ‘anti-Islamic’.
Under the Government’s counter-terror drive, universities have a duty to monitor students for signs of ‘non-violent extremism’ and block hate preachers.
But yesterday Sir Vince said institutions would feel obliged to ‘demonstrate impartiality’ and ban ‘non-Muslim speakers whose reputation is also controversial for different reasons’.
He said some speakers were already being given hostile receptions on campuses, including Ukip leader Nigel Farage who cancelled an appearance at Cambridge after protests.
A petition was also set up to stop feminist Germaine Greer speaking at Cardiff because her views could allegedly offend ‘trans’ people.
Sir Vince said: ‘Once we get into the way of thinking that the best way to deal with extreme views is to suppress them, we get into very dangerous territory indeed.
‘And unfortunately I think that is the way the government is trying to lead.
‘If the government is successful in getting through legislation which in turn leads to guidance to universities, I suspect what will happen is this.
‘The legislation and the guidance will be vague, and universities being naturally risk adverse institutions will err on the side of caution and try to stop controversial speakers.
‘They will then be accused of being anti-Islamic and so they will try to stop other speakers of other persuasions.’
