The city of Bristol has been a vital force of resistance against all forms of hatred. Now, we must take a stand against the vile societal ill that is, Islamophobia. We urge all the students at Bristol and the wider community to join us in standing for justice and calling for the university to take swift action against Islamophobia on our campus. 

What is happening

The University of Bristol Islamic Society is alarmed by multiple complaints against Professor Steven Greer of the Law School for his reported use of discriminatory remarks and Islamophobic rhetoric.

We are disappointed by the apathy and the lack of action taken by the university when these concerns were brought to their attention. The university has not held Professor Greer accountable nor taken the concerns of Muslim students seriously, despite numerous complaints raised by students over the last few years. After having engaged the university over a number of years without any progress, we feel it is now necessary to make the public aware. 

Law students have reported that Professor Greer frequently expresses views in his classes that can be deemed Islamophobic, bigoted and divisive. For example, students have reported that Professor Greer has brought the Quran into class, read a verse and laughed at it. Further, he expressed that “most difficulties stem from the Islamic influence upon it” concluding that islam is not human rights compatible. 

Many other examples accumulate into a pattern of what can only be perceived to be hostility and bigotry towards Muslims which Professor Greer freely disseminates under the pretext of ‘academic freedom’. The latest complaint brought forward is related to a Human Rights module in which Professor Greer makes false claims about Islam and Muslims. His use of the horrific events of the Charlie Hebdo attack as evidence of Islam’s stance on freedom of speech is an example of the kind of Islamophobic rhetoric that aims to posit the actions of killers as being representative of the entire Muslim community and of Islam. The theme of collective punishment is repeated in a video uploaded by the Law school, where he explains that the disproprionate and discriminatory targeting of Muslims by the Prevent duty is justified because “jihadi terrorism is the principle terrorist threat the UK faces”. The Prevent duty has been widely criticised by various human rights groups,  the UN and former police officers and whilst there is no research to support its effectiveness, there are multiple reports that condemn it as Islamophobic and racist. 

These examples along with the rest of the lecture notes shown, expose a clear lack of depth of knowledge about Islam. They also show an institutional failing to understand how this kind of rhetoric will cause harm; not only to the Muslim students in his classes but also in the way these ideas will deepen divisions between Muslims and the wider society and increase discrimination and hate crime towards muslims. 

The University is complicit 

The gross misconduct that has been underway at the University of Bristol for years, without any accountability, is extremely concerning. 

The University of Bristol is an educational institution that has committed to “decolonising the curriculum” and ensuring that their curricula is ‘inclusive in scope and delivery’,we hope that they will act on the ‘speak-up’ culture they want to push forward. Despite this, our concerns were silenced for years under the banner of academic freedom.  

The recent adoption of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) definition of Islamophobia’ has had no effect in practice and we feel that it is now our representative responsibility to highlight how the APPG definition of Islamophobia seeks to protect no one and is wholly not fit for purpose in addressing our experiences of Islamophobia, coupled with the fact that according to the university implementation of policies to protect its students have to be 'balanced' with “academic freedom”.

We demand justice 

Our demands:

From Professor Steven Greer: 

• A statement of apology to all Muslim students, making it clear that his remarks are an opinion, rather than objective truth.
• Removal of this material from his teaching and the module.
• A firm commitment from him to not to make such statements in future teaching.

Failing this:

• A consideration of further disciplinary action, including suspension and/or dismissal 

From the University of Bristol: 

• A written apology for funding, supporting, and promoting Professor Steven Greer’s work and teaching, as well as damage caused.
• Continuous detailed updates on this case to all Muslim students.
  A review of the systems in tackling/reporting Islamophobia at Bristol, which also involves the Islamic Society as the representative body of Muslim students on campus.

With your support, we are closer to bringing justice. Please share this petition and urge others to sign as well. Your support is much appreciated. 

For other ways you can help, please click here and head over to our instagram to stay updated.