Post by Hickman on Nov 2, 2005 14:58:03 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]'Extremists bullying university students' [/shadow]
Muslim students at a West Yorkshire university are being intimidated by a group of hard-line Islamic extremists.
Security guards were forced to throw members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which the Government is trying to ban, out of a campus dining room for harassing Muslims for not fasting.
The radical organisation - barred from universities by the National Union of Students - is also accused of trying to take over the students union.
Ann Cryer, Labour MP for Keighley, made the allegations at Parliament after visiting the university, which she does want to name for fear of deterring students from applying for courses.
She said: "I was told that during the previous Ramadan, members of Hizb ut-Tahrir went into the canteen and were forthright in condemning young Muslims who were eating there because they should have been fasting. Eventually the university's security had to be brought in to move them on.
"When I went to the university a few weeks ago I was told that Hizb ut-Tahrir has taken over the Islamic society and was preparing to take over the students union.
"I am not sure what has happened about the students union but I hope that it has not been taken over.
"Such events are really sad because it is the hundreds of mainstream Muslims at the university who should be the guiding force in our communities."
Hizb ut-Tahrir was barred from campuses by the NUS amid accusations of anti-Semitism.
The group has denied claims it is setting up front organisations to secretly recruiting vulnerable British students.
Its followers want the establishment of an 8th century-style Islamic Caliphate across the Middle East, with no separation between religion and politics.
But Dr Imran Waheed, a spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir, has refuted claims it is trying to radicalise young British Muslims or promotes violence.
Mrs Cryer also told MPs she remained stunned by some of the attitudes of young Muslims in West Yorkshire.
One young man denied bullying Muslim women about the way they dressed, saying he "merely explained what will happen to them in the afterlife if they continue to dress inappropriately", she said.
Professor Geoff Layer, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: "We assume that Ann Cryer's comments do not relate to the University of Bradford as there have been no incidents of note during this period of Ramadan.
"Indeed, it is over three years since there was a minor problem in the University refectory, which was dealt with at the time with the support of the lay Muslim advisers."
;D ;D ;D 
www.thisisbradford.co.uk/bradford__district/bradford/news/BRAD_NEWS10.html
Muslim students at a West Yorkshire university are being intimidated by a group of hard-line Islamic extremists.
Security guards were forced to throw members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which the Government is trying to ban, out of a campus dining room for harassing Muslims for not fasting.
The radical organisation - barred from universities by the National Union of Students - is also accused of trying to take over the students union.
Ann Cryer, Labour MP for Keighley, made the allegations at Parliament after visiting the university, which she does want to name for fear of deterring students from applying for courses.
She said: "I was told that during the previous Ramadan, members of Hizb ut-Tahrir went into the canteen and were forthright in condemning young Muslims who were eating there because they should have been fasting. Eventually the university's security had to be brought in to move them on.
"When I went to the university a few weeks ago I was told that Hizb ut-Tahrir has taken over the Islamic society and was preparing to take over the students union.
"I am not sure what has happened about the students union but I hope that it has not been taken over.
"Such events are really sad because it is the hundreds of mainstream Muslims at the university who should be the guiding force in our communities."
Hizb ut-Tahrir was barred from campuses by the NUS amid accusations of anti-Semitism.
The group has denied claims it is setting up front organisations to secretly recruiting vulnerable British students.
Its followers want the establishment of an 8th century-style Islamic Caliphate across the Middle East, with no separation between religion and politics.
But Dr Imran Waheed, a spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir, has refuted claims it is trying to radicalise young British Muslims or promotes violence.
Mrs Cryer also told MPs she remained stunned by some of the attitudes of young Muslims in West Yorkshire.
One young man denied bullying Muslim women about the way they dressed, saying he "merely explained what will happen to them in the afterlife if they continue to dress inappropriately", she said.
Professor Geoff Layer, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: "We assume that Ann Cryer's comments do not relate to the University of Bradford as there have been no incidents of note during this period of Ramadan.
"Indeed, it is over three years since there was a minor problem in the University refectory, which was dealt with at the time with the support of the lay Muslim advisers."
;D ;D ;D 
www.thisisbradford.co.uk/bradford__district/bradford/news/BRAD_NEWS10.html