Tuesday, October 17, 2006
UK universities to spy on Muslims
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Lecturers and university staff across Britain will be asked to spy on ââ¬ÅAsian-lookingââ¬Â and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence, the Guardian reported on Monday.
According to the Guardian, the lecturers and university staff would be told to inform on students to special branch because the government believes campuses have become ââ¬Åfertile recruiting groundsââ¬Â for extremists. The British Education Department has drawn up a series of proposals which are to be sent to universities and other centres of higher education before the end of the year. The 18-page document acknowledges that universities would be anxious about passing information to special branch, for fear it amounts to ââ¬Åcollaborating with the secret policeââ¬Â. It says there will be ââ¬Åconcerns about police targeting certain sections of the student population (eg Muslims)ââ¬Â.
The Guardian said the proposals are likely to cause anxiety among academics, and provoke anger from British Muslim groups at a time when ministers are at the focus of rows over issues such as the wearing of the veil and forcing Islamic schools to accept pupils from other faiths.
Wakkas Khan, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: ââ¬ÅIt sounds to me to be potentially the widest infringement of the rights of Muslim students that there ever has been in this country. It is clearly targeting Muslim students and treating them to a higher level of suspicion and scrutiny. It sounds like youââ¬â¢re guilty until youââ¬â¢re proven innocent.ââ¬Â
Gemma Tumelty, president of the National Union of Students, said: ââ¬ÅThey are going to treat everyone Muslim with suspicion on the basis of their faith. Itââ¬â¢s bearing on the side of McCarthyism.ââ¬Â
The document, which has been obtained by the Guardian, was sent within the last month to selected official bodies for consultation and reveals the full extent of what the authorities fear is happening in universities.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\17\story_17-10-2006_pg1_5
UK universities to spy on Muslims
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: Lecturers and university staff across Britain will be asked to spy on ââ¬ÅAsian-lookingââ¬Â and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence, the Guardian reported on Monday.
According to the Guardian, the lecturers and university staff would be told to inform on students to special branch because the government believes campuses have become ââ¬Åfertile recruiting groundsââ¬Â for extremists. The British Education Department has drawn up a series of proposals which are to be sent to universities and other centres of higher education before the end of the year. The 18-page document acknowledges that universities would be anxious about passing information to special branch, for fear it amounts to ââ¬Åcollaborating with the secret policeââ¬Â. It says there will be ââ¬Åconcerns about police targeting certain sections of the student population (eg Muslims)ââ¬Â.
The Guardian said the proposals are likely to cause anxiety among academics, and provoke anger from British Muslim groups at a time when ministers are at the focus of rows over issues such as the wearing of the veil and forcing Islamic schools to accept pupils from other faiths.
Wakkas Khan, president of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: ââ¬ÅIt sounds to me to be potentially the widest infringement of the rights of Muslim students that there ever has been in this country. It is clearly targeting Muslim students and treating them to a higher level of suspicion and scrutiny. It sounds like youââ¬â¢re guilty until youââ¬â¢re proven innocent.ââ¬Â
Gemma Tumelty, president of the National Union of Students, said: ââ¬ÅThey are going to treat everyone Muslim with suspicion on the basis of their faith. Itââ¬â¢s bearing on the side of McCarthyism.ââ¬Â
The document, which has been obtained by the Guardian, was sent within the last month to selected official bodies for consultation and reveals the full extent of what the authorities fear is happening in universities.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\17\story_17-10-2006_pg1_5