Posted 1:45 p.m. Sept. 26
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — The Islamic extremist group Al-Muhajiroun took its message to the streets in one of England's largest student centers during freshman orientation week in an effort to recruit followers and argue a message with sexist, racist and homophobic connotations.
The group, who has been banned from British University campuses by the National Union of Students (NUS), manned a station on a public street on Manchester's Oxford Road and attracted crowds with loud rhetoric and graphic pictures.
"I think that these people should be ashamed to be preaching such hate," said first-year student Neil Parks. "I know that this is only one faction of the religion, but it is still upsetting in the wake of New York City."
Parks was not alone, as many students passing the display became engaged in heated arguments over the group's radical doctrine.
"Al-Muhajiroun incite hatred and NUS will not tolerate extremist views and the intimidation of students," said NUS President Brooks David in a radio address. "NUS is working closely with students' unions around the country to ensure that students can continue to study and socialize in a safe and welcoming environment, free from incitement, hatred and fear."
David added, however, that the recent events in the United States had
nothing to do with the NUS decision to ban the group.
Al-Muhajiroun reportedly has been targeting students as young as 16 to join the movement and train in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group claims to have over 7,000 followers in the United Kingdom.
Within days of the attacks on the United States, the group had set up a
stall outside the Queen Mary College at the University of London.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, Al-Muhajiroun's leader, praised the terrorist attacks against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. He is reportedly an associate of Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rhaman, arrested after the first World Trade Center bombing.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — The Islamic extremist group Al-Muhajiroun took its message to the streets in one of England's largest student centers during freshman orientation week in an effort to recruit followers and argue a message with sexist, racist and homophobic connotations.
The group, who has been banned from British University campuses by the National Union of Students (NUS), manned a station on a public street on Manchester's Oxford Road and attracted crowds with loud rhetoric and graphic pictures.
"I think that these people should be ashamed to be preaching such hate," said first-year student Neil Parks. "I know that this is only one faction of the religion, but it is still upsetting in the wake of New York City."
Parks was not alone, as many students passing the display became engaged in heated arguments over the group's radical doctrine.
"Al-Muhajiroun incite hatred and NUS will not tolerate extremist views and the intimidation of students," said NUS President Brooks David in a radio address. "NUS is working closely with students' unions around the country to ensure that students can continue to study and socialize in a safe and welcoming environment, free from incitement, hatred and fear."
David added, however, that the recent events in the United States had
nothing to do with the NUS decision to ban the group.
Al-Muhajiroun reportedly has been targeting students as young as 16 to join the movement and train in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The group claims to have over 7,000 followers in the United Kingdom.
Within days of the attacks on the United States, the group had set up a
stall outside the Queen Mary College at the University of London.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, Al-Muhajiroun's leader, praised the terrorist attacks against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. He is reportedly an associate of Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rhaman, arrested after the first World Trade Center bombing.
