THE University of Bradford has responded after the Government's independent adviser on social cohesion raised concerns over a "campaign of intimidation and fear" at the setting nearly a decade ago.

Dame Sara Khan published a report on Monday which found "chilling" levels of harassment pose a "serious threat to our democratic way of life".

Her report included a case study about the University of Bradford's plans to open The Centre for the Study of Political Islam in 2015.

The proposals led to "threats directed at staff and a campaign of intimidation" and the university eventually "cancelled" the planned centre, the case study said.

Following publication of the report, the University of Bradford told the Telegraph & Argus that it has a "robust strategic framework that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion".

Female academic 'became fearful about her personal security'

The case study referencing The Centre for the Study of Political Islam in Dame Sara's report said: "Looking at peace and reconciliation, it hoped to understand the impact of political Islam and produce world class research.

"The launch for the centre was scheduled to take place at the House of Lords in December 2015.

"However, within a week of invitations being sent out, local Muslim 'community leaders' who objected to the centre and the use of the term 'political Islam' raised concerns.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Dame Sara KhanDame Sara Khan

"The university organised a community event and invited local Muslim activists to learn more about the academic centre, its aims and objectives and to explain that political Islam was a legitimate academic study and discipline.

"Many who attended the meeting had no concerns, although others were still opposed to the centre.

"A campaign of intimidation and fear quickly followed, calling for a boycott of the University of Bradford - with leaflets being distributed across social media, WhatsApp and in mosques across Bradford claiming the centre intended on 'demonising, stereotyping and alienating Muslims'.

"Activists claimed the university had an 'Islamophobic ideology' and called on people to write to one of the senior female academics involved with the centre."

According to the case study, that female academic "became fearful about her personal security and would park in different places across the campus and arrive at different times as precautionary measures".

Another academic was also concerned for his welfare, the case study said, after receiving "threats and hostile telephone calls from anonymous callers".

The case study added: "The senior leadership team struggled to know how to deal with the growing conflict and the proposed centre was eventually cancelled out of fear of harm to staff, concerns about the university's reputation and the prospect of noisy and permanent protests disrupting life and safety at the university.

"Those involved in the centre (said) they were highly critical of the lack of support from the local political leaders and institutions, who failed to publicly defend the university and its right to academic freedom and research."

Review 'offers important insights'

In her report, Dame Sara said the University of Bradford "found itself in a very difficult position".

She said: "Our universities are great cultural institutions – they are the home of freedom of thought, where people are safe to challenge existing wisdom and to freely pursue knowledge.

"Universities maintain a clear covenant that ideas are challenged on their merits and not through censorship and restrictions.

"However, some universities have been targeted in an attempt to restrict and censor legitimate research.

"The University of Bradford found itself in a very difficult situation, where threats directed at staff and a campaign of intimidation alongside a lack of support resulted in the curtailment of academic freedom and research.

"Although this incident occurred in 2015-16, evidence suggests freedom-restricting harassment has been occurring in our society for considerable time."

A University of Bradford spokesperson said: "The Khan Review offers important insights into social cohesion, freedom of speech and socio-economic inequality and rightly draws a link between the erosion of 'democratic resilience' and the lack of a national strategic framework.

"The University of Bradford has a robust strategic framework that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, as recognised by the fact we have been ranked first on the Higher Education Policy Institute's Social Mobility Index for the last three years.

"This, along with many other initiatives, means we do more than any other university in England to improve people's life chances."