I England er man begyndt at overveje konsekvenserne af, at sætte multikulturelle hensyn over menneskerettighederne bl.a. indenfor universitetsverdenen er det blevet magtpåliggende at etablere standarder for personlig frihed; ikke mindst af hensyn til den akademiske frihed.
Vejledningen: "Freedom of speech on campus: rights and responsibilities in UK universities" udgør et interessant indblik i problematikken ved at ville have religiøse ekstremister, venstreorienterede voldsmænd, empirisk forskning og menneskerettigheder under samme tag.
Det lyder smukt at kunne regulere dette, men det viser sig hurtigt at ytringsfriheden må bøje sig for vold; på side 39 findes svigtet mod ytringsfriheden utroligt nok i skematisk form.
Kort sagt kan man ikke forvente at kunne anvende sin ytringsfrihed på et engelsk universitet, såfremt der er grund til at tro, at ytringer vil være kontroversielle. Det kræver nemlig at der ikke er risiko for at nogen vil gå til angreb.
Potential Controversial Issues:
• subject to adverse media attention
• Associated with a campaign or
political pressure group
• A faith or belief group whose
views may be deemed as being
discriminatory or inflammatory
to others
Giver årsag til at ansøgningen skal vurderes både akademisk og sikkerhedsmæssigt
Has clearance been given by the VC/Dean of Students (for Student events) and/or
the Security Manager?
Hvordan sikkerhedsvurderingen i praksis påvirker de smukke intentioner kan ses i et af de eksempler der bringes (Case study 3 side 66.)
In taking this decision, the secretary is conscious of the university’s duty to ensure freedom of speech within the law. The BNP are not a banned or proscribed organisation or political
party. There is no evidence that the speaker’s presence at other meetings has involved the commission of any criminal offence or public order issue, or that this event would do so. The purpose of the event appears consistent with freedom of speech within the law, even if it may involve the expression of controversial or unpopular opinions.
The university secretary briefs relevant heads of department, the university’s students’ union, and the campus trade unions about the event, and issues external and internal statements to explain the decision to grant permission for the event and to place this in the context of the legal duty to ensure freedom of speech within the law.
Universities UK Freedom of speech on campus: rights and responsibilities in UK universities Opposition to the event builds. The campus trade unions and NUS organise significant protests, arranging to bring staff and students from other institutions to the university to protest. The university acknowledges that this protest activity is also within the scope of freedom of speech and expression.However, the scale of the planned protests make it clear that there is a substantial risk of disorder if the event proceeds and that the original purpose of the event, and the conditions attached to the permission granted, can no longer be fulfilled. On that basis, and after consultation with security and the police, the university withdraws permission for the event. This is consistent with the university’s Code which provides that permission may be withdrawn if adequate arrangements cannot be made to ensure that good order is maintained.
Konsensus er med andre ord den, at selvom man akademisk frihed tilstræbes, lovligheden ikke kan betvivles og en godkendelse har fundet sted, kan hensynet til en voldelig gruppe at 'sikkerhedsmæssige årsager' forhindre et møde.
Vi har set det herhjemme med lovlige demonstrationer mod moskebyggeri, der ikke har kunnet afholdes af frygt for voldelige grupper. Brug af vold som metode til at skaffe et Ungdomshus. Trusler om vold for at bevare en ulovlig fristad.
Hvorfor denne accept af vold?
