Irshad Manji

Via the Pub Philosopher, news that Leicester University have cancelled a talk by Irshad Manji, Canadian author of 'The Trouble With Islam', feminist and lesbian. I'm not sure what Islam has to say on her sexuality, but I'd imagine as 'people of the book' most Muslims would be against it.

So are most orthodox Catholics and Protestants. And Sikhs. I'm just trying to remember the last time a British university cancelled a lecture by a lesbian for fear of outraged Christians.

The Alliance For Workers Liberty site reports :

"According to Irshad Manji, Leicester University gave two reasons for cancelling.

First, that they feared hostile reactions from some local Muslims so severe that they could not guarantee the security of a lecture by Irshad Manji.

Secondly, the scheduled date of the lecture being soon after the General Election, they feared pressure during the election campaign on local politicians to come out against Manji speaking."


The Philosopher he say : "I don't know what I am more angry about, that Muslim extremists in this country can now censor their critics at will, or that the incident went unreported in the media and so the bigots were effectively unopposed. "