Thoughts of American Infidel: U.K.: GUIDANCE FOR UNIVERSITIES ON HOW TO SPOT & COMBAT ISLAMIC EXTREMISM ON CAMPUS

NEW GUIDANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDERS TO HELP TACKLE VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN THE NAME OF ISLAM ON CAMPUSES - RAMMELL
17 November 2006

Minister for Higher Education Bill Rammell today published guidance to help HE Providers tackle violent extremism in the name of Islam. The guidance will provide University Vice Chancellors and Principals of FE colleges who provide Higher Education with a practical tool to assist them in working with students and staff to increase community cohesion and tackle violent extremism in the name of Islam on campus.

Mr Rammell stressed the need to tackle the real but not widespread threat from Islamist extremists groups who seek to target and exploit vulnerable students on university campuses to recruit and groom them to violent extremism in the name of Islam. It emphasizes the need for universities, the Government, students, the police and local communities to work together to ensure the safety and the welfare of all students on campus, of all backgrounds. The guidance also recognises the important role that universities play in providing opportunities for vigorous debate, discussion and intellectual inquiry.

This guidance builds on "Promoting good campus relations: dealing with hate crimes and intolerance" - the general guidance that Universities UK with Government support circulated last year. Included within it are definitions of violent extremism in the name of Islam and scenarios based on real life examples of how violent extremism in the name of Islam may occur on campuses. For example, the guidance suggests issues to consider if staff suspect the circulation of violent extremist literature on campus or if they are concerned about extremist speakers or groups visiting the campus. It also offers advice on how to deal with bullying and harassment of students by extremist groups.

The guidance will also:

• clarify the legal position following updates to legislation that have taken place in 2006 and points out Universities responsibilities within the law;

• seek to sensitise staff to the issues and encourage them to think about how Higher Education communities can become more vigilant and work with staff and students to take preventative action to tackle violent extremism in the name of Islam on their campuses;

• Make clear that tackling violent extremism in the name of Islam within HE institutions is a joint responsibility between Government, institutions, students and local communities.

• Be clear in its distinction between individuals who promote violent extremism in the name of Islam and the faith they might claim to be associated with or represent.

This guidance follows a series of meetings between Bill Rammell, Muslim students and university staff over the last 18 months which have illustrated the need for further support in this area. Similar meetings will continue to maintain an ongoing dialogue with Muslim students and local Muslim faith leaders to offer clear messages that we are all taking these issues seriously, that we’re engaging on them and that we will challenge any sympathy for extremist distortions of Islam.

Mr Rammell said:

“The guidance provides a recognition - that I believe must be faced squarely - that violent extremism in the name of Islam is a real, credible and sustained threat to the UK. And that there is evidence of serious, but not widespread Islamist extremist activity in HEIs. ““This guidance is not about targeting one particular community. It is about promoting safety within HEIs and the wider community and about HE providers taking their responsibilities for the safety of all their staff and students very seriously. It is also about protecting vulnerable students from bullying and harassment and other recruiting tactics of violent extremist groups” “I hope that the guidance will open up a continuing dialogue with HEIs and their communities in which we can draw on and learn from their practical experiences. A lot of good work is already being done we all need to build on that”

Commenting on the revised guidance the British Muslim Forum (BMF) said:

"We welcome these proposals. We believe that extremism of all forms needs to be tackled, in particular the radicalism of Muslim youths on campus. The British Muslim Forum will fully support any initiative to tackle any form of criminal activity undertaken in the name of Islam. We would, however, strongly, urge the Government to consider issuing similar guidance on tackling the anti-Muslim extremism of the far right, as this would reinforce the Government's resolve to tackle all forms of extremism.The British Muslim Forum urges Higher Education Institution authorities to ensure that Islam is integrated into their mainstream religious structures on campus, as this would help to eliminate clandestine radical activity."

Islamic fanatics 'grooming students at 25 universities'
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Britain faces a sustained threat from extremist Islamic groups recruiting in British universities, the Government warned today.

Releasing new guidance designed to root out suspected terror cells, Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, said there was evidence that undergraduates were being "groomed" by groups infiltrating campuses disguised as ordinary students.

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Universities given 'how-to' guide for fighting violent Islam
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The Government today issued explicit guidelines aimed at tackling violent Islamist extremism on Britain's university campuses.

A 20-page booklet aimed at university Vice Chancellors and principals of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) advises campus administrators how best to resist extremist groups and preachers attempting to radicalise their students and commit themselves to violent jihad.

The document, following general guidelines issued last year to tackle all forms of extremism among students, contains several "real life" scenarios specifically aimed at targeting Islamism.

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