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Activist who called Jihadi John ‘beautiful’ visits student Gaza camp to teach Muslim ethics
Asim Qureshi said he delivered a ‘teach-in’ and handed off books and food at two London campuses
May 12, 2024 13:32
Asim Qureshi said he delivered a ‘teach-in’ and handed off books and food at two London campuses
May 12, 2024 13:32An activist who described Isis terrorist “Jihadi John” as a “beautiful young man” attended anti-Israel protest camps at London universities to deliver food, books, and a lecture on the Qur’anic ethics of disobedience.
Asim Qureshi, the research director of Cage, visited demonstrators on campus at Soas and UCL this week.
Writing on X/Twitter, he said he had given a “teach-in” for students at the latter university on behalf of the war on terror advocacy organisation.
Cage, founded in 2003, has campaigned on behalf of Muslims accused of terrorism.
Qureshi sparked outrage in 2015 when he referred to Mohammed Emwazi, who appeared in several Isis videos in which western hostages were beheaded, as a “beautiful young man”.
Speaking at a press conference, Qureshi said: “He was the most humble young person that I knew. This is the kind of person that we are talking about.”
In 2013, the Community Security Trust raised concerns over “antisemitic” material on Cage’s website.
A now-deleted article implied that the Jewish owner of the World Trade Centre, Larry Silverstein, was involved in a conspiracy to destroy the twin towers in order to claim insurance.
Describing his visit to anti-Israel protest camps, Qureshi wrote on social media: “I was really honoured to provide a teach-in to the brave students from [UCL Action for Palestine] encamping at UCL for Cage.
"I spoke on the Qur’anic ethics of disobedience in times of structural violence. I was also really glad to bring food cooked for the camp by my wife.”
Qureshi also brought books by himself, rapper Akala, and several writers covering terrorism policy.
“Hope they help in the long days ahead of the group,” he said.
Qureshi added: “After my old campus at UCL I head over to my other old uni SOAS to support the students and encampment there. Was lovely to pray Maghrib [an evening prayer] with them on the SOAS green.”
Over the past week, several pro-Palestine protest camps have sprung up at universities across the UK in imitation of similar demonstrations in America.
Student protesters have demanded that their universities divest from Israel and enforce an academic boycott of the Jewish state.
Earlier this week, Rishi Sunak summoned higher education leaders to Number 10 to demand that they do more to protect Jewish students.
Speaking to vice-chancellors at the summit, Edward Isaacs, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said that while the right to protest must be respected, criminality must also be dealt with.
Calling for “swift and decisive action,” Isaacs claimed that the 2023/2024 academic year had been unprecedented for Jewish students.
While some saw their family members killed on October 7, others faced discrimination and insensitivity in their halls and on campus.
He said: "Antisemitic incidents have levelled off at a rate that is far higher than any previous year. This truly has been the worst antisemitism crisis on campus that we have seen for a generation, and its impacts run deep throughout the Jewish student population.”
A UCL spokesperson said: “Asim Qureshi was not approved to speak at UCL, and had not been through our external speaker process.
“We are investigating and will take the appropriate action, as necessary.”
A UCL spokesperson said: “Asim Qureshi was not approved to speak at UCL, and had not been through our external speaker process.
“We are investigating and will take the appropriate action, as necessary.”