Mr. Küntzel is in Germany not known as a scholar at all, only as a publicist. He is a part of a neocon-Jewish propaganda network that seems to invite him all around the world. I have no problem with him delivering speeches for enthusiastic jewish students who need a "feindbild". But I'm deeply troubled that an university (?) invited him for a "lecture".

Rainer Möller, Krefeld, Germany

It does not appear that the lecture was anti-Semitic. On the contrary, it seems to suggest (correctly) that Hitler had a close connection with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and both had the goal of eliminating Jews. This was the precursor of the Baath Party, the Muslim Brotherhood, etc.

What is lost on most liberal peace activists is that all of this happened BEFORE the existence of Israel, BEFORE the U.S. was involved in the ME and BEFORE WWII.

It is also a fact that Jews existed in the ME at least 1,000 years prior to tribes that called themselves Muslims. They have a right to be there...but they also have an obligation to treat Palestinians fairly and with dignity...

I don't think this University professor was preparing an anti-Jewish lecture. I think he was describing historical considerations.

I could be wrong, but that's how I read it.

sanjosemike

sanjosemike, San Jose, CA

Academia cannot and must not be held ransom by a negligible minority that does not “like” the analysis that was to be presented by this scholar. Western civilization is based on free speech, the freedom of thought and expression. We must not surrender our principles to a small minority of Muslims that have neither the intention to integrate into society nor adhere to the British constitution but rather impose an Islamic republic unto us.

While Great Britain has been one of the most multicultural societies in Europe, let us not make the same mistakes as Germany was silently subverted in the 1930s. Philosopher Hayek has warned to watch the small, incremental – often perceived as immaterial – changes in public sentiments. Their cumulative effects over two or three decades might become detrimental and irreversible. Freedom of speech must not be compromised by giving into a minority that would rather impose an Islamic republic unto us than to adhere our constitution.

Bernd D, London, UK

It's sad when people can't see the difference between incting hatred and freedom of Speech. If a guy can hold a slogan saying "Islam wicked and evil religion" (Nick Griffin) and get away with inciting hatred while a Muslim holds a banner "Bomb Bomb, Denmark" and get found guilty for inciting hatred, I don't think this country really does tend to favour the Muslims, as some of you think it does.

As for University of Leeds being held by the Leeds University Islamic Society (as Gemma Bradley says "I will not at all be surprised if we are all to wear veils in the university") that is utter hogwash. The Islamic Socitey at Leeds is vocal because it practices it's right, as does the Jewish Society and the CU (Christian Society) and all other Society's related to the University.

It's simple guys, Inciting Hatred should not be tolerated, especially in an institute where we have such bright young minds. The etiquettes of a true human being are found in you and no one else.

Hanzaq, Leeds, UK

Who is running Britain now? When Universities cancel lectures at the behest of a minority something is badly wrong.

You cannot deny major problems with sections of the Islamic world. Other immigrant groups have behaved quite differently. This has to be discussed at length, otherwise your problems will multiply. And Muslims if they wish to become truly part of British society have to adapt and face their own internal problems and attitudes not just cry victimization.

I think it might have been Australia which invented multiculturalism but it the UK it has gone out of control.

Peter Cohen, Melbourne, Australia

The organisers of this meeting failed to complete appropriate risk assessments for the safety of the people attending (despite being repeatedly asked to). They failed to put in place any stewards to assist those attending. Both of these requirements are standard to any meeting held in University facilities. The responsibility for cancellation of this lecture lies at the door of its organisers and no one else.

KJX, Leeds,

While I much appreciate that e.g. "The art of contemporary rug making" will be given its due till March 2007 by Leeds University’s Business School, canceling Matthias Küntzel's lecture on Islamic Anti-Semitism in the Middle East is nothing short of a shame. If the voiced protest by some of the university's Muslim students warrants security concerns, this should most certainly be addressed, though definitively not at the expense of academic freedom - canceling one of three events amounts to as much.

Btw: wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Küntzel is a name that triggers umlaut related trouble, the laugh being on the loser any which way.

Istvan Dreher-Szabo, Berlin, Germany

The title of this article is wrong and misleading - there was no "antisemitic islam - lecture" to be hold but a lecture about the well established hatred of Jews = Antisemitism in islamistic movements and in the arab world at large. I can understand that arabic students would have protested against such a lecuture, but cancelling it altogether by the University of Leeds is an act either of extreme cowardice and yielding to islamic threats or/and antisemitic inclinations of those at the university who decided to cancel.

Ingrid, Cologne, Germany

I am glad the lecture was cancelled. Hate speech cannot be tolerated disguised as freedom of speech. There is line to be drawn and I appreciate that the university talking the appropriate action.

Chris, chris/chris, usa/va

Unfortunately past and present television, radio, newspapers and, worst of all, textbooks for very young children, in nearly every Arab country have been documented time and again. Their anti-Jewish and at times anti-Christian hate content is sadly a fact, as is their incitement to extreme violence as a "religious virtue".
These are sad facts, but academic debate should not be stifled because of unpleasant facts. Academic debate is the life-blood of democracy. If we stifle it, we only encourage continued indoctrination of hatred. These facts must be brought into the open, if we want to improve things and encourage societies to work for understanding and peace.

Bernice Dubois, Paris, France

This article got it wrong in many two major ways. First of all, the name of the man is Matthias Küntzel, not Köntzel. Second, the lecture Küntzel was going to hold was not anti-Semitic, like the title of the article says, but about anti-Semitism. Noone has ever claimed the lecture to be anti-Semitic.

Rory, London,

Another example of dhimitude by a supposed beacon of free speech and scholarship. Bend the knee and tug the forelock when representatives of the ROP express their displeasure. Displeasure usually implies violence of some sort.
At my own university an open letter has been sent to all staff and students warning of the possibility that extremist groups my try to target the university. Of course the ROP is not mentioned, but it is well known that over the last year or so members of an extremist muslim group have been infiltrating the student body.
We have a multifaith prayer room which has become de jour a mini mosque. Separate area for females. Won’t be long before we have special washing facilities, and toilets that do not face mecca.

Lithcol, London,

Generally terms like Nazi are reserved for Europeans who oppose the cult beliefs of multiculturalism/egalitarianism.

Since these wars we are fighting for Israel in the Middle East, beginning with Iraq, these terms are now being used to attack Muslims who oppose the ethnic interests of Jews.

JoeMorgan, Aura,

I am a student at Leeds University. Academic reason does not appear among students. This story epitomises the situation within the university - I-Soc (Islam Society) says 'jump', the university does. The Union is run virtually solely by students through bodies such as union council and the executive. Given the size of I-Soc, the student who gets elected tends to be the student who has had the support of I-Soc, simple as that.

I-Soc exerts a great deal of pressure on all areas of the university and union to have every aspect of the university run their way - it wouldn't suprise me in the slightest if we all had to wear veils to attend lectures.

As I have said, this story is typical of the University and is only one example among many.

Gemma Haddey, Leeds,

It would be irresponsible to go ahead with a talk without the proper support in place, and I feel that for this reason and no other it was right for it to have been cancelled. Imagine what could have happened if the right support was not available. There could have been a far worse situation had this been the case. A lack of communication constitutes neither racism nor censorship, just a mistake somewhere along the line.

Kathy, Birmingham,

I particularly like the email that was sent:

“The title of the talk is provocative and I have searched the internet to read his writings and they are not very pleasant,” Mr Sawalem said."

Damn straight! The things that Matthias Kontzel talks about are not at all pleasant and that's the whole point! The anti-semitism in the Islamic world is extremely unpleasant. And if Muslims think it is unpleasant to hear about it in a lecture, maybe they should consider how unpleasant it is to be on the receiving end of that anti-semitism.

DK, Sydney, Australia

My views on this inevitable episode, given the creeping censorship on the subject of both Islam and antisemitism can be accessed here:

http://irenelancaster.typepad.com/my_weblog

Dr. Irene Lancaster, Haifa, Israel

As an educator, I find it incredibly disheartening that Leeds University has prevented an opportunity for a full and proper debate on the subject and surrounding issues to take place. That a leading institution can be held to ransom in such a way is portentous, ominous, and I fear reflects an inequality in the world of academia in which 'Zionism = racism' is willingly debated yet a contrary view is opressed. Any seemingly controversial views should be debated, not censored.

Zoe Yacoub, Brighton,

No, Muslims are certainly not opposed to freedom of expression, as long as you agree that everything about Mohammed and his religion are fine-and-dandy, peachy-keen; in a word, "perfect". If you question ANYTHING about Mohammed's life or teachings, or anything regarding Islam or its practice ANYWHERE in the world, you will be confronted by seething masses who don't feel they should be held accountable for anything they may happen to do in their "outrage". Now, Civilized World --- Europe, Britain, America, Australia: what in the hell are we going to do to get us out of this multicultural mess?

A_Nonny, nonny, Colorado , USA

John Thick has shown his absolute ignorance of the history of the Jews and Muslims. The lack of knowledge of those who express their opinion on this topic is astounding.

You can learn, Mr. Thick, that the Jews under Islamic rule were referred to as Dar-al-Khattab, aka the "People of the Book" these people were dhimmis under the ruling caliphate and had to pay an extortion tax known as the Jizyah. If they did not pay, they faced death. Apologists like Karen armstrong will say that the Jews and Christians were "protected peoples of the book" but she leaves out the inconvenient fact that they were "protected" (through the payment of the Jizyah) from the Muslims themselves.

Jayro, Arkansas, USA pwns joo.

Just because it makes people uncomfortable or some people don't like to talk about it doesn't mean antisemitism shouldn't be addressed. It is well documented that in the middle east antisemitism is absolutely rampant and vicious. Just look at Palestinian media. Its not going to go away if we all just ignore it and pretend its not there. People ignored Hitler too.

Keli, Texas, USA

I gave a lecture to students on this very same topic last Saturday. My own background is in Arabic, Persian, and Islamic Studies, and I consider this subject to be crucial to an understanding of modern anti-Semitism. European (specifically German) tropes of anti-Semitism moved to the Middle East in the 1930s and 1940s, where they were warmly welcomed by the Muslim Brotherhood and others, creating a style of anti-Jewish imagery and rhetoric that owed something to existing Islamic ideas and more to Nazi expression. That style is now ubiquitous in the Islamic world and is as vicious as anything Hitler et al produced. How on earth is a lecture on this topic racist? Is it now racist to condemn or even study racism? The university bows out on a technicality, but that is too mealy-mouthed for words. They were frightened of Muslim protests. The bureaucracy could easily have been handled. I have fought for academic freedom against religious prejudice all my life. This is a disgrace.

Denis MacEoin, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Hatred of Jews and Christians was taught by Muhammad, the warlord of Islam who waged 27 battles AFTER delcaring himself a 'prophet'. After the battle against the Jewish tribe of the Quarayzah Muhammad himself beheaded 400-600 men and boys who had surrendered as they were brought to him in batches according to the Hadith of Bukhari (the most respected transmitter of the life and words of Muhammad) & IBn Ishaq. M referred to Jews and Christians in the most offensive bigoted terms in the Koran and the ahadith. The Grand Mufti of Jersusalem was invited by Hitler to Germany to help form the Bosnian Muslim SS troops involved directly with mass extermination of Jews. Protocols of Zion (virulent anti-semitic tract) is most popular book in Middle East. EU Report 2005 stated antisemitism was highest in Europe since WWII and due to Muslim perpetrators in the main. Home Office reported Jews four times higher victims of attacks than any other group: Muslims were main perpetrators of these attacks

Times Reader, london, England

It is a shame that he was not allowed to speak then some of the fundamentalists might have been shown that hatred of the Jews is not in the Koran and should not form any part of their rhetoric. I believe that somewhere in the Koran Mohammed states that "Musilms must show respect for the people of the books". meaning the followers of the books that preceded the Koran;The Old Testament or Torah (Jews) and the New Testament (Christians). Look at the relationship between Jews and Muslims prior to the 20th Century and one does not find any level of hate, but one of tolerance and acceptance. So what happened? Maybe some of the answers have been silenced!

John Thick, London, UK

More proof as I see it that Islam and the west just aren't compatible.

John, Salford, England

Pete from Cov - can't you see that all your moans about supposed lack of freedom are invalidated purely by the fact that you're able to moan? I put it to you that by its very nature, democracy means that you'll never have everyone liking all the government's decisions - unless you live in one of those countries where the president always gets re-elected with 100% of the vote, of course.
I think a lot of people confuse "I don't like everything in this country" with real oppression. Maybe what some people need is a chance to live under a genuinely repressive government - we've all been spoiled for too long.

Andy, Dundee,

This sort of thing used to happen at my university 20 years ago. There was once a talk about the evils of Israel and the 'Jewish Conspiracy', yet when Jewish students tried to reply with their own talk, they were disbarred, for racism.
The trendy, knitted tie-wearing, liberal intellectuals ought to take a long, hard look at their hypocrisy, as well as their thinly veiled anti-semitism. No wonder Muslims think that we are soft - we are.

Nick McGine, Wuhan, China

Orwell is being proved right by the day: four legs good, two legs bad; some are more equal than others - free speech is fine for some, not for others (whose mind set involves 'thought crime' needing to be rooted out by what we now call 'political correctness')

Blackstone, Banbury,

The university VC has taken a correct decision in my opinion. There has been enough muslim-bashing lately and we certainly do not need more labels such as antisemitic Islam or another clash of civilisation. Let us not extrapolate a Middle Eastern problem that is political in nature and equate it with Islamic antisemitism. Frankly such terminology is totally alien to all muslims. No sensible person objects to freedom of speech and a constructive debate. However this does not mean constant humiliation of a weak and vulnerable section of the community.

a.rashid, Leeds, UK

Numerous Muslim academics have been refused the freedom to express their views. Its good that authorities are showing fairness. It seems anti-semitism is a taboo subject but expression of derogatory views by semites is acceptable. At last a decent answer to these hypocrits.

javed, london, uk

If you have one spoilt brat inthe family then it can be kept quiet by giving it its choice of food, its favourite clothes, and turning off any television programs it happens not to like. The policy breaks down when you have two spoilt brats.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

As a Jew who lives in Leeds, the pride that I had in our University has dissappeared in an atmosphere reminiscent of the 1930s

Melvyn Sumroy, Leeds,

We always say how our "freedom", "freedom of speech", and "democracy" is superior to fascist 3rd world countries.

Well, what freedom of speech? Holocaust denial is a criminal offence in some EU countries, while in Japan, their politicians and academics are free to debate Imperial Japanese war crimes.

What freedom? The police are taking our DNA even without criminal convictions; we have the most CCTVs in the world; Blair is pushing for ID cards; soon the government will have the means to track our movements via the road pricing scheme

What democracy? What is the point in having the chance to vote for our leaders, when both the main parties have more or less the same policies? Blair wants road charging; Cameron wants flight allowance.

I put it to you, that we are as powerless as any citizen of any 3rd world country.

Think about it.

Pete, Cov,

First Cambridge and the Clareification affair...then Oxford and the outrage over Professor Coleman's views...and now Leeds University cancels a seminar on anti-Semitism for fear of offending anti-Semites.

One wonders if there still exists an academic institution in this country that won't collapse in a quaking heap of appeasement any time an Islamist gives it a harsh look.

John O'Connor, London,

Let me see if I understand this. The lecture is cancelled after a meeting with the Vice Chancellor, but the claim is that this was purely a bureaucratic decision.

So who is running Leeds University these days? Does the Vice Chancellor report to the Head of Security, or something?

We should be ashamed not only that censorship is taking place, but that those doing the censoring don't have the guts to say so, but hide behind transparent excuses instead.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/US