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Islamic Societies Exposed
The news that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was an Islamic Society President has shocked everybody – most of all, it has shocked Muslim students
The news of Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab’s alleged failed bomb attempt has sent shockwaves on both sides of the Atlantic. Some, however, are more disconcerted by the fact he was a former Islamic Society President. Yet nobody is more shocked than Islamic Societies themselves, who not only consider such actions antithetical to the most basic principles of Islam, but who are once again under scrutiny for a crime they did not commit. There remain many unknowns surrounding AbdulMutallab’s road to radicalism; but it would be a mistake to begin vilifying campuses as ‘hotbeds of extremism’.
For students high on purpose and eager for change, university Islamic Societies continue to be active, engaging and transformational bodies. For many Muslim students, interaction with their Islamic Society may be basic; people to offer prayers with, break their fast with, and perhaps learn a little more about their religion. For others, it can be a haven from the binge drinking culture that dominates student life.
At these basic levels, Islamic Societies continue to be an essential aspect of student life for many Muslim students, fulfilling their spiritual and welfare needs.
The legacy of diverse Islamic Societies continues to be etched on the lives of Muslim students who have passed through them, and on campuses that have felt their palpable impact. ‘Charity Week’ is a staple in every Islamic Society calendar, with students around the United Kingdom and Ireland coming together for a single week to raise money in aid of orphans. This year alone raised over £350,000, creating a total of over £1million raised in the last 4 years, a feat unmatched at the student level. ‘Discover Islam Weeks’ are also high on the agenda – funnily enough not attempts to force conversion on the mass student populace – rather meaningful steps taken by Islamic Societies to engage with their fellow students, increase understanding about Islam, and create multi-level dialogue on campus.
More than ever today, Islamic Societies are engaging Muslim students with mainstream society; the participation of Muslim students in their Student Unions and diverse campaigns continues to grow, with many London Islamic Societies last year hosting ‘Green Weeks’ to highlight the importance of environmentalism in Islam. Muslim students, responding to the Qur’anic command to ‘stand out firmly for justice’ (4:135), can be seen in every level of campaigning, from (more recently) feminist and social issues, to human rights, international law, ethical investment and affordable education.
Of course, like all student societies, not every Islamic Society is an institution of progression and flag-bearing contribution and we must acknowledge the few occurrences of insularity, or perceived difference. Though how can subjecting innocent young people, many of whom are still only in their teens, to intense scrutiny do anything but further the problems of marginalisation; what strategic or moral benefit can be had from demonising them?
Yet there is something more to this “radical Muslim students” idea. There are some who wrongly, and spitefully, associate a more conservative-religious identity with extremism, thereby fusing a values-discourse with a national-security-discourse. One may find some practises on campuses contentious - for example where many Islamic Societies provide segregation between women and men in events, based upon their respected understanding of religious teachings. But to jump from this to “ideology” to “extremism” is ridiculous, and there is no evidence whatsoever that establishes this link. Indeed, the truth is the opposite - the same Muslims and those that provide their religious teachings on campuses are the most vehement opponents of terrorism, publicly stating that terrorism has no foundations in Islamic thought. Those that conflate two separate discourses do so irresponsibly, and should be condemned.
As a community, Muslim students face a level of hostility from their peers and wider society that is beyond what any other student group face. There is rising evidence of Islamic Society membership lists and events being monitored, and in some cases, banned, contravening our hopes for universities to remain bastions of thought and free speech. The rise of the far-right in recent months, the BNP and the vile EDL in particular have made Muslim students fear for their safety; just a few weeks ago, Muslim students from London’s City University were the subject of a brutal Islamophobic attack, which was unfortunately ignored by much of the media. The ‘Islam on Campus’ report produced by the Centre for Social Cohesion last year has also been used to whip up hostility, mistrust and fear on campuses, alas the report was widely discredited by FOSIS, NUS, Universities UK and other organisations for its weak methodology and apparent wilful misrepresentation.
So what then of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the former UCL Islamic Society President? Without a doubt, his Islamic Society association has shocked many to the core, and raised questions as to whether Universities are doing enough to tackle radicalism on campus. Yet we must refrain from castigating Islamic Societies; we do not yet know the facts about his road to radicalisation; and a full investigation into the nature and causes of his radicalisation is crucial. Those that promote the link between campus and extremism recklessly jump the gun on opinion, not fact. Quite simply, still, the fact remains that “there is no evidence of systematic radicalization in universities”, according to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of University College London, speaks on this case with wisdom and clarity, about underpinning theory with evidence.
Far from being ‘hotbeds of radicalisation’, universities must firmly defend their cultures of inclusivity, free speech, and trust. Violent terrorism is a global phenomenon which spares nobody; Muslim students are equally concerned about this scourge and will continue to play their part in speaking out against it. We, as FOSIS, continue to speak out clearly and boldly against terrorism - and our work locally and nationally, with the NUS and Government, does not shy away from addressing extremism. Yet the only effective response will be a unified one. Now more than ever we must stand united against destructive forces, be they violent radicals, or those who wish to demonise an entire community for the actions of a minority. Muslim students work tirelessly to make positive contributions to their campuses, often working against the odds. Calls to limit freedom of expression, restrict the work of Islamic Societies, and for Universities to increase surveillance on Muslim students will only sow the seeds of mistrust and resentment.
Our journey continues. We, as FOSIS, are continually making efforts to promote good practice where we find it. We, all collectively, must encourage Islamic societies to remain engaged on campus, and students and universities need to maintain healthy and open dialogue and debate with each other. Trust must be rebuilt; and we must not fall into the trap of creating enemies where none existed. We must reject those who foolishly attack Muslim students with nothing but conjecture, threatening campus liberties, and endangering our safety on campus. Today, our stake in campus life must stand for all; for reinvigorating discussion, for activism and for our civic progression.
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