UCLU ISLAMIC SOCIETY STATEMENT

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Merciful.

The University College London Union (UCLU) Islamic Society would like to take this opportunity to make a statement about recent events.  As widely reported in the media, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a former President of the UCLU Islamic Society. Strongly echoing the sentiments of our University and Union, we are all deeply saddened and shocked at the alleged actions, and like everybody else, are very relieved that there was no direct human tragedy as a consequence. As a society, we unequivocally and in very clear terms denounce all acts of terrorism and violence regardless of the perpetrator.

It is unfortunate however that as a result of the incident, the positive campus work of the Islamic Society has been tainted and maligned. We would like to make emphatically clear that despite minority claims, Mr Abdulmutallab had at no stage demonstrated signs of radicalisation during his time at UCL; a point clearly reinforced by many who knew him, including student and staff members alike.

It has also been suggested that Islamic Societies are somehow hotbeds for radicalisation. Apart from being a baseless untruth, it is important and only fair to note here that all events organised by the Islamic Society are public meetings and are designed to engage and facilitate open debate and discussion, where all are free to express their opinions. Universities have always been centres for innovative thinking and arenas for the dissemination of ideas and thoughts, with the fundamental principle of freedom of expression being at the heart of all discussion.  Moreover, it is important to realise that as long as this expression does not incite violence or break the law, then it should not only be permissible but fostered for academic student debate.  Thus, we are deeply concerned, as are others, that Islamic Society events such as the “War on Terror” week, which despite being an acceptable topic for the public media to explore, are now considered by some to be “unacceptable for student debate".

As a society we hold strongly to the principle of freedom of expression and organise events for our members and the wider UCL community with that in mind, where all are free to engage and have their opinions heard. Never has a speaker invited by the UCL Islamic Society espoused views on campus which would incite violence or would have broken the law.  Should there be any such occurrence, then we as a society would be the first in holding such views to account. However, there has been a disconcerting and deliberate attempt made by some to conflate the issue of violent extremism with what may be considered as controversial, but legal, viewpoints.  It is thus pleasing to note in this regard our Union's laudable and principled stance against the National Union of Students (NUS) no-platform policy, demonstrating the Union's positively spirited attitude towards facilitating academic debate and discussion for its 20,000 students of enviably rich diversity. 

The UCLU Islamic Society and its members are as much a victim of the recent disheartening news as everybody else, yet they are committed as ever to be positive and engage in dialogue with fellow students on campus with a number of dynamic awareness projects in the pipeline. We would further like to reassure Muslim students that the Islamic Society has been in close contact with the Union and University to ensure that the safety of all students is paramount and to contact us should you have any concerns or problems. 

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the Union and the University for their high-principled and refreshingly measured balance, cooperation and support during this time of great difficulty for its students. Both the Union and University have consistently demonstrated their promotion of diversity and the practice of freedom of speech within the constraints of the law. It is in this spirit of debate and dialogue that the Society will continue to contribute positively to UCL’s vibrant and long-cherished student legacy, where all are welcome.

Mojeed Adams-Mogaji

President UCLU Islamic Society