Students vote 2 to 1 proceed with debate.
Free speech does not require the promotion of hate-mongers.
“The BNP is a threat to human rights. It should not be promoted”.
Oxford – 25 November 2007
Human rights campaigner and Green Party candidate for Oxford East, Peter Tatchell, has condemned the decision of the Oxford Union to go ahead with the Nick Griffin and David Irving debate:
“This debate will promote the fascist BNP. If it had a chance, the BNP would deny freedom of speech to others. The BNP is a threat to human rights. It should not be promoted,” said Mr Tatchell.
Members of the Oxford Union debating society have voted nearly 2 to 1 in favour of proceeding with a free speech debate tomorrow night, Monday 26 November, featuring guest speakers, Nick Griffin, leader of the far right British National Party, and Holocaust revisionist historian, David Irving.
The vote was called by the Oxford Union President Luke Tryl, after he had been deluged with protests from Jewish, black, gay and anti-fascist organisations. They wanted the invitations to Griffin and Irving withdrawn; arguing against giving a platform to speakers who they accuse of being fascists or apologists for fascism.
The student vote, held last Friday, was 1,062 in favour of going ahead with the debate with Griffin and Irving as guest speakers, and 640 against.
Commenting on the decision of the Oxford Union, Peter Tatchell, the Green Party candidate for the constituency of Oxford East, which includes the Oxford Union, said:
“Support for free speech does not oblige the Oxford Union to reward these men with a prestigious public platform, which will give them an air of respectability, raise their public profile and help them to espouse their intolerant views.
“Disinviting them will not deny them free speech. Under British law, Nick Griffin and David Irving still have the freedom to espouse their views at any public meeting they wish to organise, or in any leaflet they wish to print.
“Inviting them to the Oxford Union is helping them propagate their bigotry. No institution is required, in the name of free speech, to proactively promote the purveyors of prejudice. Not offering hate-mongers a platform is not the same as banning them,” he said.
Peter Tatchell has written to Like Tryl, President of the Oxford Union, once again urging him to withdraw the invitation to Nick Griffin and David Irving.
This is the text of Mr Tatchell’s letter to the President of the Oxford Union:
Dear Luke Tryl,
I am surprised and saddened that the Oxford Union has reiterated its misguided decision to go ahead with a free speech debate featuring Nick Griffin, leader of the neo-fascist British National Party, and Holocaust-denying historian, David Irving.
Nick Griffin is the head of a far right party that has a history of promoting racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and prejudice against Muslims. He has a conviction for inciting racial hatred. (1)
David Irving was branded by a British judge in 2006 as ‘a racist, an anti-Semite and an active Holocaust denier.’ (2)
Support for free speech does not oblige the Oxford Union or any other institution to reward these men with a prestigious public platform, which will give them an air of respectability and allow them to espouse their intolerant views.
Not offering them a platform at the Oxford Union is not an infringement of their right to free speech. Lots of people never get invited to speak in your debating chamber. They are not being censored.
Nick Griffin and David Irving still have the freedom to espouse their views at any public meeting they wish to organise, or in any leaflet they wish to print.
I do not agree that any institution is required, in the name of free speech, to proactively promote the purveyors of prejudice. Not offering hate-mongers a platform is not the same as banning them.
The invitations to Griffin and Irving should be withdrawn and alternative non-bigoted speakers invited to discuss what limitations, if any, should be placed on freedom of expression.
Free speech is an important human rights issue that should not be cheapened by the sensationalism of parading of pair of right-wing extremists in the chamber of the Oxford Union.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Tatchell
Human rights campaigner
Green Party candidate for Oxford East
Sources:
(1) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4670574.stm
(2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4449948.stm
Peter Tatchell recently hosted a TV debate, pegged on the Oxford Union controversy. It is entitled: Do fascists have a right to free speech? The debate discusses the pros and cons of inviting Griffin and Irving. The interviewees are Luke Tryl, President of the Oxford Union, and Brendan O’Neill, Editor of Spiked.
Watch the interview here:
http://doughty.gdbtv.com/player.php?h=05d4c71ddc2f70ec3093e94e9777c83f