University that became a hotbed for radicals
THE university attended by Mohammed Emwazi was yesterday forced to turn away an extremist preacher who was due to give a speech just hours after its former student was unmasked.
Radical cleric Haitham al-Haddad was booked to address students at the University of Westminster last night.
He had been invited by the Islamic Society, which had been planning the event for weeks, but after yesterday’s revelation the university announced it was postponed due to ‘increased sensitivity and security concerns’.
Former students said yesterday that the university had been a ‘hotbed of radicalism’ for years.
Two years after Emwazi left the university in 2009, it elected a student union president with links to radicalism.
Tarik Mahri, 27, was made president despite connections to the group Hizb ut-Tahrir which has called for the establishment of an Islamic state.
His vice-president at the time, Jamal
‘Radical recruiters try it with any Muslim’
Achchi, now aged 30, also had strong links to the group – which David Cameron called to be banned in 2007 – raising fears that the union had been infiltrated by extremists.
Yesterday Mr Achchi and Mr Mahri refused to return calls.
It has now emerged that a new generation of radical Islamist leaders inspired by Abu Qatada preached to students on more than 200 occasions at leading British universities in 2012 alone.
The study by anti-extremist group Students Rights showed 60 institutions heard from speakers with a ‘history of extreme or intolerant views’ while 12 University Islamic societies held events segregated by sex.
Raheem Kassam, who attended the University of Westminster, said he would not be surprised if Emwazi had been radicalised while studying there.
He said: ‘The university was nothing less than a hotbed of radicalism when I was there.
‘Are the conditions at Westminster right for the radicalisation of someone like him? The answer is yes, 100 per cent.
‘I once walked into a meeting of the Islamic Society where they were clapping and cheering the events of 9/11.’
Mr Kassam has since set up the Student Rights group, an organisation dedicated to supporting equality, democracy and freedom from extremism on university campuses.
He added: ‘Universities across the country, the University of Westminster in particular, are being targeted by radical recruiters. They tried it with me and they try it with any Muslim.
‘I remember very vividly how I would get cornered by three or four Somali guys – students in the class with me who were dressed in non-western clothing – and they would say I must come along to the Islamic Society meetings otherwise I’m not a proper Muslim.
‘When you are 18 and a practising Muslim, you feel inclined to go. I went along and saw what was happening, and it absolutely disgusted me.’
A University of Westminster spokesman said: ‘Mohammed Emwazi left six years ago. If these allegations are true, we are shocked and sickened by the news.
‘We condemn the promotion of radicalisation, terrorism and violence. We have strict policies to promote tolerance among our 20,000 student community, who come to study from over 150 nations.
‘Any student found to be engaging in radicalised activity or intimidating others would be referred to disciplinary procedures. As a London-based university operating in a diverse multicultural city, we are fully aware of all the influences within this international city. With other universities in London, we are working together to implement the Government’s Prevent strategy to tackle extremism.’