UK varsities to spy on Asian students

LONDON: In a measure likely to infuriate the minorities, British government has drawn up a plan to ask lecturers and university staff across the country to spy on ‘Asian-looking’ and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence.

According to The Guardian, the plan has been drawn up by the Department of Education and it will be sent to universities and other centres of higher education before the end of the year.

“While radicalisation may not be widespread, there is some evidence to suggest that students at further and higher educational establishments have been involved in terrorist related activity, which could include actively radicalizing fellow students on campus,” an 18-page document claims.”

“There are different categories of students who may be ‘sucked in’ to an Islamist extremist ideology... there are those who may be new to a university or college environment and vulnerable to ‘grooming’ by individuals with their own agenda as they search for friends and social groups, there are those who may be actively looking for extremist individuals with whom to associate. “Campuses provide an opportunity for individuals who are already radicalized to form new networks, and extent existing ones,” the document states.

According to the document, “Islamic societies have tended to invite more radical speakers or preachers on to campuses... They can be forceful, persuasive and eloquent. They are able to fill a vacuum created by young Muslims’ feelings of alienation from their parents’ generation by providing greater clarity from an Islamic point of view on a range of issues, and potentially a greater sense of purpose about how Muslim students can respond,” it said.

It gives five real-life examples of extremism in universities. The first talks of suspicious computer use by Asian students, which was reported by library staff. In language some may balk at, it talks of students of “Asian appearance” being suspected extremists.