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An ex-Muslim campaigner has hit out after she was banned from speaking at Warwick University when the students’ union said it was concerned she could incite hatred or offend Islam.

Human rights campaigner Maryam Namazie, a member of the Council of Ex-Muslims, is well known for giving talks which challenge aspects of the religion she does not agree with.

(Image: Mallorie Nasrallah.)

“Criticising an idea, which is what religion is, is not racism. It’s the definition of people being able to live how they want.”

The Iranian-born secularist was invited to Warwick University’s Students’ Union by Warwick Atheists, Secularists and Humanists’ Society to give a talk on October 28.

But the university’s students’ union later blocked the invitation and, in a response shared by Ms Namazie, said: “This is because after researching both her and her organisation, a number of flags have been raised. We have a duty of care to conduct a risk assessment for each speaker who wishes to come to campus.

“There a number of articles written both by the speaker and by others about the speaker that indicate that she is highly inflammatory, and could incite hatred on campus. This is in contravention of our external speaker policy.”

The response goes on to detail other aspects of the policy including the guidance that speakers “must seek to avoid insulting other faiths or groups”.

Racism

Ms Namazie suggested the decision prevented important debate and amounted to oppression.

She said: “It angers me that we’re all put in a little box and that anyone who criticises Islam is labelled racist. It’s not racist, it’s a fundamental right. The only way we can challenge aspects of Islam is through speech.

“The Islamic movement is a movement that slaughters people in the Middle East and Africa. It’s important for us to speak about it and criticise it.

“Labelling us as Islamaphobic is a way of preventing us from expressing our dissent.”

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She added: “My parents are Muslim, this is not about Muslims. There are many different types of Muslim.

“The students’ union’s decision labels all Muslims as reactionist and suggests they are all offended by people who leave Islam, and that is not the case.

“Criticising an idea, which is what religion is, is not racism. It’s the definition of people being able to live how they want.”

Warwick University said the decision had not been made by them and was a matter for the students union.

Warwick Atheists have appealed the decision. The students union could not be reached for comment.