Trouble At Reading University

Guest post From Peter Tatchell
"Reading University has cancelled today’s scheduled speech by "kill the gays" Islamist preacher Abu Usamah at-Thahabi, which was to be hosted by the university’s Muslim Society.

“Thahabi endorses the murder of gay people and of Muslims who give up their faith. He says women are deficient and encourages the beating of little girls who refuse to wear the hijab,” said Peter Tatchell, Director of the human rights lobby, the Peter Tatchell Foundation.

“While this cancellation is welcome, the stated reasons for the cancellation are inadequate.

“The university authorities say the event was cancelled due to threats of violent protests from the far right EDL. However, they have failed to condemn the Muslim Society for inviting Thahabi.

“Offering him a platform clearly violated the equal opportunities and non-discrimination policies of the university and the student’s union. He should have never been invited in the first place.

“Women, Muslim and LGBT students have a right to go to university without being menaced and threatened by hate preachers.

“Thahabi’s hateful, violent views are not shared by most Muslims in Britain,” said Mr Tatchell.

See this online local Reading press report of the meeting’s cancellation, posted at 19.30 last night:
http://bit.ly/VaxxXY

Here is a statement by the anti-extremist group, Student Rights:
http://bit.ly/XENa9Q

Below is a briefing about Abu Usamah at-Thahabi’s history of murderous incitements, sexism and threats against fellow Muslims.

A letter had been sent by the Peter Tatchell Foundation to the Vice Chancellor of Reading University, David Bell, protesting at the university's decision to host Abu Usamah at-Thahabi, on the grounds that Thahabi had been filmed by Channel Four’s Dispatches programme justifying the murder of gay people. Incitement to murder is a serious criminal offence."

http://www.petertatchellfoundation.org/religion/reading-university-cancels-kill-gays-islamist-preacher