Academic hounded by Islamic society speaks out at NSS event

A professor who feared for his life after being accused of 'Islamophobia' has called for more free speech protections during a National Secular Society event.

Professor Steven Greer, an internationally-renowned human rights scholar, joined the NSS for a discussion on Islam and academic freedom on Thursday.

In 2020 the University of Bristol's Islamic Society launched complaints about the content of a human rights law module taught by Prof. Greer, which included discussion of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the traditional death penalty for 'blasphemy' in Islam.

Although Prof. Greer was officially exonerated of all allegations after a five-month inquiry, the university cancelled the module.

During the talk, Prof. Greer said he feared Islamist attacks as a result of the accusations. The stress forced him to take time off sick for months, and he was left feeling betrayed by the university for failing to support him.

He also commented on wider issues of free speech at universities and wider society, including the recent incidents of death threats targeting a boy who allegedly scuffed a Quran at a school in Wakefield.

Now Research Director at the Oxford Institute for British Islam, Prof. Greer has published a book about his experiences, in the hope it will encourage others to take a stand for free inquiry and debate.

You can watch the discussion here: