Fundamentalist Mohammedan teaches at LSE

[Mich the Tester]

According to my electronic copy of today’s Times, a gentleman named Reza Pankhurst has been lecturing at the London School of Economics. Aside from the irony of a gentleman named Pankhurst espousing religious views which could be seen as diametrically opposed to those of his eminent Mancunian namesake Mrs Emmeline, one is struck with a little discombobulation and confusion.

One part of my mind tells me this is lunacy; a reputable academic institution should not allow itself to be used for spreading the primitive superstitions of religious extremists, but another part of my mind says that a western European university is perhaps the best place for a fundamentalist nut; it is, after all, in these great cathedrals of academia that such a gentleman might find his ideas challenged with academic rigour, by young people who are minded to view that which they are told in a critical fashion.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6988753.ece

I’m curious as to the views of the panel.

[shaunbhoy]

According to my electronic copy of today’s Times, a gentleman named Reza Pankhurst has been lecturing at the London School of Economics. Aside from the irony of a gentleman named Pankhurst espousing religious views which could be seen as diametrically opposed to those of his eminent Mancunian namesake Mrs Emmeline, one is struck with a little discombobulation and confusion.

One part of my mind tells me this is lunacy; a reputable academic institution should not allow itself to be used for spreading the primitive superstitions of religious extremists, but another part of my mind says that a western European university is perhaps the best place for a fundamentalist nut; it is, after all, in these great cathedrals of academia that such a gentleman might find his ideas challenged with academic rigour, by young people who are minded to view that which they are told in a critical fashion.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6988753.ece

I’m curious as to the views of the panel.

Do you think he watches films about Gladiators?

[Mich the Tester]

Do you think he watches films about Gladiators?

NO, I imagine he prefers One Man and his Dog.

[cojak]

but another part of my mind says that a western European university is perhaps the best place for a fundamentalist nut; it is, after all, in these great cathedrals of academia that such a gentleman might find his ideas challenged with academic rigour, by young people who are minded to view that which they are told in a critical fashion.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle6988753.ece

I’m curious as to the views of the panel.

Or not, sadly.

Unless they teach Philosophy/Critical Thinking as a 101 course for all new graduates these days...

[Scary]

Aside from the irony of a gentleman named Pankhurst espousing religious views which could be seen as diametrically opposed to those of his eminent Mancunian namesake Mrs Emmeline, one is struck with a little discombobulation and confusion.

One was a political activist criticised for their militant tactics, and the other was...

[Mich the Tester]

Or not, sadly.

Unless they teach Philosophy/Critical Thinking as a 101 course for all new graduates these days...

I did one of those courses at Poly and once attended a lecture by the late, great Carl Sagan in London. Very worthwhile indeed.

[Mich the Tester]

One was a political activist criticised for their militant tactics, and the other was...

One was a rational individual fighting and campaigning to improve the human condition. The other is a raving extremist fighting to send humanity back to the middle ages.

[contractor79]

I’m curious as to the views of the panel.

Did we ever get consulted on immigration policy in any general election campaign? Same goes for EU, gay rights, benefits system etc.

[sal626]

Here’s a first hand account of sermons given by Reza at LSE.

I work on the Strand and have been going for Friday prayers at LSE for over a year. I’ve heard Reza speak many times. His sermons are basically:
- “US foreign policy is responsible for many wars throughout history (some illegal like Iraq)”
- “US foreign policy often supports dictators who oppress their own people (Zia, Musharraf in Pakistan, Mubarak in Egypt, House of Saud in Saudia Arabia)” – this is usually his biggest gripe.
- “Muslims are vilified in the press – not all of us are terrorists”
- “Muslims in UK should peacefully protest US support for dictators” – this is the only one time he has actually asked for any action – and this was a specific protest against Zardari (president of pakistan)

However, never once, in the last year that have I heard him, has he enticed hatred, encourage people to act violently, or go off and join al-qaeda or the Taliban – or anything of that kind. I have never even heard him mention Hizb-ur-tahir (I group I do not agree with and have had run ins from my uni days in the 90s).

In fact, just a couple of weeks ago he was speaking against violent action and suicide bombers.

He wouldn’t have much luck at the LSE anyway, as majority of students there are more concerned about credit crunch and how they will get a good job now at the investment banks.

What he does outside the sermons, I cannot comment on – but don’t believe everything you read in the Times.