13 March,2016 09:23 AM IST | | Agencies
A British journalist who wrote a biography on the life of Jihadi John, has withdrawn from speaking at an event at the dead ISIS executioner’s former university.
A British journalist who wrote a biography on the life of Jihadi John, has withdrawn from speaking at an event at the dead ISIS executioner's former university.
Mohammed Emwazi, also known as Jihadi John. AFP PHOTO / HO / SITE INTELLIGENCE GROUP
Robert Verkaik was supposed to speak about his new book, which explores the life of Mohammed Emwazi as well as examining questions of MI5 harassment and radicalisation.
He was told he could not talk unless he signed the University of Westminster's "code of practice" for external speakers. The code is inspired by the Government's controversial counter-radicalisation policy Prevent - the very subject he was meant to be critically debating.
Verkaik refused to sign the document, for fear that it would leave him unable to raise difficult issues like harassment.
