Activist who praised terrorist visits students’ Gaza camp
AN ACTIVIST who described Isis terrorist “Jihadi John” as a “beautiful young man” attended anti-Israel protest camps at London universities to deliver food, books, and a lecture on the Qur’anic ethics of disobedience.
Asim Qureshi, the research director of Cage, visited demonstrators on campus at Soas and UCL this week.
Writing on X/Twitter, he said he had given a “teach-in” for students at the latter university on behalf of the war on terror advocacy organisation.
Cage, founded in 2003, has campaigned on behalf of Muslims accused of terrorism.
Qureshi sparked outrage in 2015 when he referred to Mohammed Emwazi, who appeared in several Isis videos in which western hostages were beheaded, as a “beautiful young man”.
Speaking at a press conference, Qureshi said: “He was the most humble young person that I knew. This is the kind of person that we are talking about.”
In 2013, the Community Security Trust raised concerns over “antisemitic” material on Cage’s website.
A now-deleted article implied that the Jewish owner of the World Trade Centre, Larry
Silverstein, was involved in a conspiracy to destroy the twin towers in order to claim insurance. Describing his visit to anti-Israel protest camps, Qureshi wrote on social media: “I was really honoured to provide a teach-in to the brave students from [UCL Action for Palestine] encamping at UCL for Cage.
“I spoke on the Qur’anic ethics of disobedience in times of structural violence. I was also really glad to bring food cooked for the camp by my wife.” Qureshi also brought books by himself, rapper Akala, and several writers covering terrorism policy. “Hope they help in the long days ahead of the group,” he said. Qureshi added: “After my old campus at UCL I head over to my other old uni SOAS to support the students and encampment there. Was lovely to pray Maghrib [an evening prayer] with them on the SOAS green.”
Over the past week, several proPalestine protest camps have sprung up at universities across the UK in imitation of similar demonstrations in America.
A UCL spokesperson said: “Asim Qureshi was not approved to speak at UCL, and had not been through our external speaker process. “We are investigating and will take the appropriate action, as necessary.”