Let’s face it, we want universities and academics to have freedom of thought, of expression and of speech. Their research requires it and our societies benefit because even unpopular ideas can be investigated and can open new horizons for all of us.

For this reason, I recommend that we should not boycott UK universities for turning out Islamic students who are radicalized on campuses and then go to fight the West. After all, every aspect of every religion is just like every other religion and deserves our respect. And if, God forbid, one of these loonies should happen to stay in the West and blow up a train, then what can we do but accept that this is the price of stupid British universities being so politically correct that they can’t tell the difference between a nut-case extremist (or supporter of extremists) professor and a true scholar. So people die and our very own US soldiers have to be at risk, is that any reason to boycott a university?

Islamic studies departments at British universities may be fuelling extremism among students, according to a Government report.

In a major review of the way Islam is taught on campuses, ministers will today call for courses to be improved to stop students being exposed to teaching that condones terrorism.

The report will also suggest that a network of Muslim faith advisers should be created to give impressionable youngsters spiritual guidance – and stop them falling under the influence of radicals. The move comes amid growing fears that universities and colleges are being infiltrated by fanatics recruiting for jihad.

Sheikh Musa Admani, the Muslim chaplain at London Metropolitan University and an adviser to Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, said he was aware of at least four universities in which students had been “groomed” by extremists.

So I repeat, do not boycott UK universities or academics. Just, you know, when you take your next European vacation, you may wish to consider avoiding the UK and go to Italy instead. I hear riding the trains is safer.

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themiddle

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