Warwick Student Union bans ex-Muslim activist and says speakers must “avoid insulting other faiths”

[rug]

Posted: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 12:35

Maryam Namazie has been blocked from speaking to the Warwick Atheists, Secularists and Humanists' Society after the Student Union said the ex-Muslim campaigner could 'insult' religion.

The National Secular Society has strongly condemned the decision. NSS campaigns manager Stephen Evans commented: "Universities have barely returned to a new academic term and we are already seeing attacks on free speech. It is absurd and sinister that an atheist speaker should be banned from campus for their views, and that 'insulting other faiths' is grounds for a speaker to be banned.

"The reasoning behind banning Maryam Namazie from speaking is the kind of muddled thinking that results in the capitulation to an Islamist agenda, which seeks to shut down all criticism of Islam."

In a statement reprinted by Namazie, the Student Union said: "We have a duty of care to conduct a risk assessment for each speaker who wishes to come to campus."

http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2015/09/warwick-student-union-bans-ex-muslim-activist-and-says-speakers-must-avoid-insulting-other-faiths

[MisterP]

1. "Please Invade My Home Country" model no. 2,542

[LeftishBrit]

2. This is a bad decision all round

Excluding actual hate-speakers is one thing; but neither Muslims, Christians, Jews or any other religion have the right to ban criticism of their religion.

If any Warwick students are offended by the concept of Maryam Namazie's talk, may I suggest a very simple solution for them: Don't attend it!

[LeftishBrit]

3. Good news: the decision has now been reversed!

https://www.warwicksu.com/news/article/warwicksu/Warwick-SU-to-host-Maryam-Namazie-as-an-External-Speaker/

[rug]

4. Excellent! Thanks for the update.