Hate-f illed extremists warping young minds
AFTER a four-month investigation, the Mail today begins a chilling exposé of extremism on Britain’s university campuses, raising deeply disturbing questions about national security and the radicalisation of the young.
In revelations that will horrify parents, we show how terrorist sympathisers are launching a deliberate assault on the Government’s anti-extremism strategy, indoctrinating Muslim students and urging them to sabotage the so- called Prevent programme.
Our Investigations Unit found that CAGE – the body which provoked outrage by describing the Islamic State murderer Mohammed ‘Jihadi John’ Emwazi as a ‘beautiful young man’ – was involved in at least 13 university events last term.
Speakers ranted unchallenged against Britain’s ‘white supremacist’ Government, were dismissive of IS beheadings and compared this country’s treatment of Muslims with Nazi persecution of Jews.
Can the intention have been anything other than to instil or reinforce a sense of grievance in young Muslims, incubating bitterness and hostility towards Britain and the West?
Almost as alarming is the ease with which CAGE has managed to sidestep university authorities, several of whom say they were unaware that meetings linked to it had even taken place. In one case, a planned CAGE meeting at a primary school was stopped only when police alerted teachers, who thought the building had been hired for a football event. Speakers planned for this occasion – openly advertised to university students – included a cleric who approves of stoning and female genital mutilation.
What a contrast to the zeal with which university authorities and the student thought police hound those who offend against political correctness, or challenge Left-wing orthodoxy.
The renowned feminist Germaine Greer and eminent historian David Starkey have both recently faced bans from university debates and branded bigots. Security expert Professor Anthony Glees was howled down for giving his views on Islamic terror and Professor Sir Tim Hunt – a Nobel laureate – was forced out of his job by the university sisterhood for a poorly- j udged but essentially innocent joke about women scientists.
Yet these sanctimonious, self-appointed guardians of rectitude turn a blind eye to – even actively encourage – genuinely dangerous people, who seek to divide society with their words of hatred and contempt for Britain.
The Mail passionately believes in free speech but those who use it to threaten the peace and security of the nation must be challenged.
As another brainwashed young Briton emerges to succeed Jihadi John in the latest sick IS video and a small boy with a London accent promises to ‘kill the Kuffars’, our investigation is a timely reminder of how easily radicalisation can lead on to terrorism and murder.