Further to the previous blog about a Nottingham uni student who was arrested and detained for downloading an Al-Qaida training manual for his MA research, in today's Guardian (P. 6) an Algerian friend of Mr Sabir who has completed his undergrad, masters and doctorate at Nottingham has been arreested in connection to the same document, and is looking to be deported. He is an active member of the campus and academic staff and not a terrorist. However, he is intellectually curious and foreign. The Guardian bring up the issue of fear that is growing on campuses and the self-censoring that is occuring as a consequence. How as academics we are to stifle our impulse to research and further our knowledge while working and investigating I do not know. Nottingham's MP, Alan Simpson, was part of a protest where students stood with taped mouths against Hicham Yezza's deportation. I am so glad there has been some kind of protest about this. Alf Nilson of the Politics Dept at Nottingham neatly encapsulates my fears:
"It's a question of intellectual freedom, not just academic freedom. What does this say about people's right to inform themselves about issues of public concern?"
Grrr.
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