In Context: 5 Web Perspectives On A Story In The News

Free speech at universities

(London Evening Standard) Malcolm Grant, the president of Britain's University College London, has responded to claims that the alleged Detroit plane bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - a former student at the university - was radicalized on campus. Grant says radicals should be allowed to speak on university campuses. He adds that universities are not "policemen" and are legally obligated to "guarantee" free speech. Grant has initiated an inquiry into Abdulmutallab's three years as a UCL student and president of the Islamic society. Grant will also lead a review of ways that universities, police and security services can work together to prevent extremism.

1.

Islamic societies denounce extremism

Federation of Student Islamic Societies
This site is run by the Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS). It's a group that was established in 1962 to represent, support and unite Muslim students at post-secondary schools in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This site gives the group's position on Abdulmutallab's alleged Detroit plane attack. President Faisal Hanjra explains how Islamic societies function. He says the group speaks out against terrorism and considers extremism "antithetical" to Islam's fundamental principles. Hanjra also says, "As a community, Muslim students face a level of hostility from their peers and wider society that is beyond what any other student group faces."

2.

Islamic political party speaks at UCL

Hizb-ut-Tahrir
This site is run by an international Islamic political party called Hizb-ut-Tahrir. The party's objective is to establish an Islamic state. A spokesperson for Hizb-ut-Tahrir, Taji Mustafa, was invited to speak at the University College London in November 2005 by a spokesperson for the Federation of Student Islamic Societies and "former friend of Abdulmutallab." This site provides insight into Hizb-ut-Tahrir's beliefs about Jihad. The "About Us" section states, "Hizb-ut-Tahrir has...watched the plans and styles of the United States, which were aimed at spreading her hegemony over the lands of the Muslims..."

3.

Free speech at American universities

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
This site is run by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. It's a non-profit organization based in the United States. The group's objective is to "protect the unprotected" and educate the public about the threats to free speech that exist on American campuses. This site advocates for the protection of rights such as religious liberty. The group argues universities in the United States "...often are the enemies of those...pursuits, denying students and faculty their voices..." The group engages with universities in the United States through several projects, including the Religious Liberty on Campus Project, which advocates for tolerance and pluralism. <-->

4.

Security threat severe in United Kingdom

Security Service MI5
This site is run by the United Kingdom's national Security Service (also known as MI5). It explains what the government service does and provides information on different types of security threats. On Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, MI5's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the security threat level - of international terrorism - from substantial to severe. The service states, "This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but...there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent." This site also explains the threat levels and gives a history of threat level changes. The last time the United Kingdom's threat level was classified as severe was in July 2007.

5.

Legal information on freedom of expression in Britain

Wikipedia: British Human Rights Act 1998
This site provides information about freedom of expression in Britain, which is guaranteed under Article 10 in the Human Rights Act of 1998. It discusses the controversy between Britain's political right and left over free speech. This site also links to a PDF file of the act, which can be found in the footnotes. It states, "Article 10 guarantees everyone's right to express their views and opinions without interference by the State." Politicians in Britain have criticized the act in the past. The former home secretary said it hampered "the fight against global terrorism."