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Alleged bomber was not radicalised here, claim Islamic Society members
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent25 Jan 2010
STUDENTS at a London university today denied allegations that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised while president of the college's Islamic Society.
In its first statement on the case, the Islamic Society at University College London expressed "deep shock and sadness" at the attempted Christmas Day attack in Detriot. But the group defended its right to organise a controversial War on Terror week of events, which was arranged during Abdulmutallab's time in charge.
Mojeed Adams-Mogaji, the current president of the UCL student Islamic Society, said: "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." The society condemned attempts to blur the boundary between terrorist acts and the expression of "controversial, but legal" views.
Reader views (3)
"STUDENTS at a London university today denied allegations that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was radicalised while president of the college's Islamic Society". Yeah of course they will as most of them are here on foreign student visas and fear the government will pull the plug on them. He was president of the Islamic society at the college, so that would mean he was tied to a local mosque, unfortunatly common breading grounds for extremism in the UK. If we want to stop extremism we must shut down mosques that are consistantly linked to preachers of hatred and bar innams from foreign nations preaching anti British and anti Christian hatred on British soil.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7, London, 25/01/2010 16:43
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So what are the Islamic Society doing about sorting out these so called radicals in their midst ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 25/01/2010 15:32
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Are the "moderate" Muslims covering their rear-ends again?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 25/01/2010 13:52
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