Lecturers and staff at British universities will be asked to spy on ‘Asian-looking’ and Muslim students they suspect of supporting terrorist acts and involvement in Islamic extremism, The Guardian reported on Monday.
LONDON: Lecturers and staff at British universities will be asked to spy on ‘Asian-looking’ and Muslim students they suspect of supporting terrorist acts and involvement in Islamic extremism, The Guardian reported on Monday.
Citing a document drawn up by the British education ministry, the newspaper said universities had been warned of talent-spotting by terrorists on campuses across the country, and of students being "groomed" for extremism.
The 18-page document, which acknowledges "concerns about police targeting certain sections of the student population (eg Muslims)", has apparently been sent to official bodies for consultation within the last month.
It identifies Muslim students from "segregated" backgrounds as more likely to support extremist stances than their counterparts who are "integrated into wider society".
The Guardian said the document encourages universities to proactively report students to the special branches of local police forces that deal with matters to do with national security.
The report suggests universities make checks on external speakers invited to give lectures by their student Islamic societies, which it says can often be "more radical speakers or preachers".
Students indicated strong opposition to the apparent measures, with Gemma Tumelty, the president of the National Union of Students, being quoted as saying: "They are going to treat everyone Muslim with suspicion on the basis of their faith. It's bearing on the side of McCarthyism," the 1950s-era Communist witch hunts by US Congressmen.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}