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Campus radicals 'serious threat' | Campus radicals 'serious threat' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Universities and colleges in England are being urged by the government to take seriously the problem of Islamic extremism on their campuses. | Universities and colleges in England are being urged by the government to take seriously the problem of Islamic extremism on their campuses. |
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell has issued practical guidance about tackling the promotion of "extremism in the name of Islam". | |
Officials believe there is a serious although not widespread threat of violent extremism on campuses. | Officials believe there is a serious although not widespread threat of violent extremism on campuses. |
The government says the guidance is not about targeting Muslim students. | The government says the guidance is not about targeting Muslim students. |
The Department for Education and Skills decided the guidance was necessary after discussions with universities, Muslim students and law enforcement agencies. | |
It aims to promote safety in educational institutions and ensure that staff and universities are taking the matter seriously. | It aims to promote safety in educational institutions and ensure that staff and universities are taking the matter seriously. |
Students should be interviewed in order to make sure that they are committed to academic study Professor Anthony Glees, security expert | |
Mr Rammell said there is a real and serious threat but that he did not want colleges to start spying on students. | |
"There is a serious issue here, we do have to face up to it, but this is also about building community cohesion on our campuses," he told the BBC. | "There is a serious issue here, we do have to face up to it, but this is also about building community cohesion on our campuses," he told the BBC. |
"This is about talking to them, it is about listening to their concerns and it is about working with the vast majority of all students, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, who oppose extremism." | "This is about talking to them, it is about listening to their concerns and it is about working with the vast majority of all students, Muslim and non-Muslims alike, who oppose extremism." |
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. | 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. |
"Students should be interviewed in order to make sure that they are committed to academic study," he said. | "Students should be interviewed in order to make sure that they are committed to academic study," he said. |
"We can't be sure of the extent of the problem and indeed we can't be sure of the precise way in which campuses and colleges and possibly schools feature in this deadly activity." | "We can't be sure of the extent of the problem and indeed we can't be sure of the precise way in which campuses and colleges and possibly schools feature in this deadly activity." |
In October, the BBC reported that the radicalisation of students by Islamist groups was a growing problem on some university campuses. | In October, the BBC 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. | Senior academics warned that the authorities were doing little to tackle the problem. |
'Exaggeration' | 'Exaggeration' |
One London university has appointed a moderate Muslim cleric to steer a small number of students away from extremism. | One London university has appointed a moderate Muslim cleric to steer a small number of students away from extremism. |
But the Federation of Student Islamic Societies insists radicalism is not widespread. | But the Federation of Student Islamic Societies insists radicalism is not widespread. |
Head of student affairs Faisal Hanjara said he believed such a step was not generally useful because it tended to exaggerate the threat and blow the issue out of proportion. | Head of student affairs Faisal Hanjara said he believed such a step was not generally useful because it tended to exaggerate the threat and blow the issue out of proportion. |
He is also worried that university and college authorities will start to look for things that are not there. | He is also worried that university and college authorities will start to look for things that are not there. |
When a draft version of the guidance was leaked in October, representatives from the University College Union accused the government of wanting college authorities to engage in "anti-Muslim McCarthyism". | When a draft version of the guidance was leaked in October, representatives from the University College Union accused the government of wanting college authorities to engage in "anti-Muslim McCarthyism". |
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly denied the measures were about "picking on" individual Muslim students, adding: "It is about sensible monitoring of activities to make sure individual student campuses are protected." | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly denied the measures were about "picking on" individual Muslim students, adding: "It is about sensible monitoring of activities to make sure individual student campuses are protected." |
The group representing university vice-chancellors, Universities UK, also warned of the danger of targeting a particular group. | The group representing university vice-chancellors, Universities UK, also warned of the danger of targeting a particular group. |
Its President Drummond Bone suggested this could be counterproductive. | Its President Drummond Bone suggested this could be counterproductive. |