Alcohol ban at Aldgate University could lead to attack on Muslims, London Met Islamic groups claim

Two Islamic societies at London Metropolitan University in Aldgate have demanded an apology from their vice chancellor for making “undemocratic, ill devised and misleading remarks” in support of a student drinking ban.

In a joint letter to Professor Malcolm Gillies, the Islamic Society and Shia Muslim Society said his “divisive” and “irresponsible” plan had led to student confrontations and warned it is only a matter of time before a Muslim student is physically assaulted.

It comes after Professor Gillies is reported to have told a conference last month that a high percentage of the university’s students consider drinking “immoral” and that it was a matter of “cultural sensitivity” to provide drink free areas.

Professor Gillies reportedly said: “Many of our students do come from backgrounds where they actually look on drinking as a negative. And given that around our campuses you have at least half a dozen pubs within 200 meters I can’t see there is such a pressing reason to be cross-subsidising a student activity which is essentially the selling of alcohol.”

The university has 30,000 students of which around 20 per cent are Muslim.

In their letter the university’s two Islamic groups said: “Your comments clearly showed the alcohol ban you proposed is based on gross generalisation about the views of Muslim students.

“There has never been a demand for an alcohol ban on campus from Muslim or non-Muslim students.

“We find your argument to ban alcohol on religious grounds baseless, divisive and irresponsible.

“Your stance has already had negative impacts both within the university and in the wider society. “There has already been anti-Muslim remarks appearing on various social media websites and there have been actual incidents of student confrontations, and it is only a matter of time before a Muslim student is physically assaulted.”

“Therefore we demand a retraction of your comments and an unreserved apology.”

A university spokeswoman said: “As a university with students drawn from a very wide range of cultures, ethnicities and religions, we recognise the different student experiences we need to cater for and facilitate in the wider community.

“The University has no plans for a cross-campus ban on alcohol. It is, however, in the later stages of consultation about how to provide an unlicensed venue to meet the needs identified in a recent student survey, while still affording students who wish to drink access to licensed premises.”