Nadine Osman
A talk hosted by the University of Exeter’s Freedom Society has ignited controversy after a recording, provided anonymously to the students’ newspaper Exeposé, revealed numerous Islamophobic remarks made by the speaker. The event, titled “Two-Tier Policing: Injustice Unveiled,” took place on October 10, 2024, and was delivered by a former Exeter student and current University of Law student. The discussion, which focused on the policing of last summer’s riots, incorporated far-right perspectives on immigration and race.
During the talk, the speaker characterized immigration as the “ethnic displacement” of white English people by Muslims, stating, “They’re literally replacing us in our own country. We’re being [sic] genocided.” He further claimed that the historical relationship between the “native English population” and Muslims was defined by “relentless attacks” in the form of terrorism, street violence, and grooming gangs—using inflammatory rhetoric to stoke fear and division.
The speaker went on to describe white English people as “a disprivileged [sic] native population who don’t even have the right to collectivize and defend themselves,” while framing the summer riots as “natives essentially rebelling against their displacement.”
Expressing approval of the riots, he stated that a “refreshing” aspect of the unrest was how it “allowed the ethnic divisions we know are there to come to the surface.” He also criticised multiculturalism, calling it “rooted in the idea that white people have it coming to us.”
Following the speech, the audience responded with applause and engaged in a Q&A session. Several attendees praised the speaker, and when asked about his approach to policing, he responded, “There would be no minorities to police.” The comment was met with laughter from the crowd.
Freedom Society, which describes itself as a group of “right-wing students dedicated to promoting free speech and uncensored political discourse,” has defended its platform. In response to Exeposé’s inquiry, the society stated, “Freedom Society supports the right to free speech as a core principle of our organisation. We have no ‘party line,’ and speakers voice their own opinions. Therefore, we neither condone nor condemn statements made at our events.”
The speaker himself addressed the backlash, acknowledging that “a few comments and jokes may have crossed the line of political correctness,” but argued that “it is far preferable to discuss these issues in a politically incorrect manner than not at all.”
A spokesperson for the University of Exeter strongly condemned the remarks, calling them “deplorable,” but emphasised that the Students’ Guild was responsible for investigating the matter. The University reiterated its commitment to free speech within the law while clarifying that “there is absolutely no justification or place for any type of discrimination, hate speech, or harassment within our community.”
The Students’ Guild launched an investigation in November 2024 but took no direct disciplinary action. Their statement read, “The scope of the investigation focused on the society’s conduct—whether appropriate external speaker processes were followed and ensuring appropriate risk management. The speaker does not fall within the scope of our Members’ Code of Conduct.”
Despite initially suspending Freedom Society’s Pints and Policy sessions, the group was allowed to continue their weekly debates under a different name. The speaker, at the time of writing, remains a committee member for another Guild-affiliated society. Additionally, on February 7—after the investigation had concluded—Freedom Society was permitted to set up a recruitment stall in the Forum, raising concerns about the Guild’s enforcement of its policies.
The Guild’s handling of the incident has sparked frustration among student groups, with an open letter condemning their inaction being circulated among societies. In response, the Guild stated on February 12, titled “Islamophobia Has No Place in Our Community,” acknowledging the harm caused and pledging to review policies surrounding high-risk society events.
Their statement admitted weaknesses in their risk management systems and pledged to enhance eligibility checks for student leadership roles. They also committed to a broader review of their Code of Conduct and risk assessment processes in collaboration with the university, ensuring that “freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from consequences.”
The Guild and University have promised to improve oversight of society events and external speaker policies to prevent hate speech from going unchallenged. Measures include increased staff training, clearer risk assessment guidelines, and mandatory training for societies hosting events that may provoke controversy.
Despite these assurances, questions remain about the robustness of the response and whether sufficient action has been taken to support Muslim students affected by the incident. With Freedom Society continuing its activities largely unchanged, the broader Exeter community remains divided on how effectively the university and Guild are addressing hate speech on campus.
As the situation unfolds, students and advocacy groups continue to push for stronger action, insisting that Exeter must move beyond statements of condemnation to tangible consequences for those promoting Islamophobia.
(Photo: William Veerbeek/Flickr Commons)
