Ulster Unionist Party spokesperson on Employment and Learning Robin Swann, has expressed his concern at reports that Queens University has cancelled a symposium on the implications of the Charlie Hebdo murders on freedom of expression.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“Queens University has cancelled the planned conference organised by the University’s Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities, reportedly because of security and reputational concerns.
“This, on the face of it, is a baffling decision. For a seat of learning, which came through 30 years of a real terrorist campaign involving home-grown fanatical extremists to basically give in to a perceived threat from another set of fanatical extremists is very disappointing.
“Never forget that free speech was directly attacked within the confines of Queens University on 7 December 1983 when IRA terrorists brutally murdered academic and Ulster Unionist Assemblyman Edgar Graham in cold blood and in full public view. Has Queens forgotten about this? I sincerely hope that they have not surrendered to the threat of terrorism”