An event tonight hosted by the Islamic Society at Kingston University is due to feature Dr Uthman Lateef and Wasim Kempson; speakers that Student Rights has called attention to in the past.
Entitled ‘Answer the Call’, and focusing on genocide in the Central African Republic, the event invites show extreme speakers continue to appear on UK campuses with ease.
Lateef, director of the Hittin Institute, is a speaker frequently criticised for his intolerant views.
He has reportedly claimed: “[Muslims] are not homophobic, we just hate homosexual acts”, and attacked “democratic Islam” – saying: “if we are teaching the way of life of the disbelievers, of the kuffar, Allah will bring humiliation on us.”
Kempson, Imam at Al-Muntada Al-Islami, has publicly expressed support for Aafia Siddiqui, sentenced to 86 years for the attempted murder of US government officials
He is also a supporter of Helping Households under Great Stress (HHUGS), which claims to support the relatives of those arrested under terrorism legislation, but has shown support for extremists.
This is not the first time that the Kingston University Islamic Society has hosted intolerant speakers either.
In addition to having recently promoted other events with Lateef, the university’s Islamic society has hosted events featuring speakers such as Haitham Al-Haddad and Dr Khalid Fikry.
Fikry, who has appeared at Kingston University with alarming frequency, is a deeply sectarian speaker who has claimed: “Shia are one of the worst and greatest enemies against our Ummah nowadays”.
He has also claimed Shia believe “killing the Sunni is to raise your rank in Paradise, [and] raping a Sunni woman is a matter that pleases Allah”.
Student Rights hopes that, if Lateef and Kempson do speak tonight, university staff will be in attendance to ensure they do not have unchallenged platform to express extreme views.
We also hope they will be held accountable for their past opinions and that the Islamic Society will consider these views when they plan future events to be held on campus.