Encouraging free speech

DURHAM UNIVERSITY IS, has been and will always be a place which welcomes and respects individuals from all cultures, faiths and countries. This is expressed in the University’s diversity and equality policy (http://www.dur.ac.uk/diversity.equality/policy/).

Leading Universities have always been places in which ideas can be developed, freely expressed and argued. Free debate is critical to any society – it is no accident that one of the first acts of any totalitarian regime is normally to suppress universities and academic freedom.

Durham University embraces freedom of expression and welcomes open and challenging debate on controversial issues, as long as the debate is respectful, honest and within the law of the land, without necessarily condoning any specific views expressed.

Debate and independent thinking is what is expected of Durham University students. That is why DUS, our student debating society, is run by students independently of the University. It is also why DSU, which has an obligation to speak out on issues which concern our students, is also independent of the University. Even though the University supports DSU financially, it does not, should not and cannot determine issues which DSU debates or the editorial content of student publications such as Palatinate.

It is this freedom and opportunity that the University gives its students which is unusual. It enables them to explore new ideas, concepts and ways of life distinct from those of their individual backgrounds, and to gain life skills, respect for diversity and a broader vision of the world.

In part, it is why so many Durham students go on to make a positive difference to the world in which we live. As an example – former editors of Palatinate include a roll-call of well-known journalists: Sir Harold Evans, Jeremy Vine, Hunter Davies and George Alagiah.

Diversity of backgrounds and expertise can only be a good thing for academic research, human understanding and our students’ education. This is the case for Iranian guests invited to participate in a discussion on “Iranian Theocracy and Democracy: Convergence or Contradiction?” last term, which was questioned by Palatinate (the fact that Palatinate could question it, and I can reply, is a good indication that the freedom to speak and debate which we value so highly is alive and well).

For the record, the series consisted of three lectures: “The Right to Rule and the Power to Command in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh”, given by Professor Charles Melville of Cambridge University who discussed the Iranian poet Ferdowsi and his discourse on just rule and kingly virtues; “Islamic Republicanism in Iran” given by Professor Rasekh of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, aimed at those wishing to understand the Iranian political system and how it functions; and “Liberal Democracy vs. Religious Democracy: Symbiotic Reciprocity or Mutual Exclusivity?”, given by Dr Ali Paya of the National Research Institute for Science Policy in Iran, which explored the evolution and democratisation of Iranian political culture.

The event also included an open discussion where speakers where questioned by the audience and many critical questions were asked.

The University’s Centre for Iranian Studies did indeed receive funding from the Cultural Consul at the Iranian Embassy in London, which helped bring academic speakers from Iran.

This, of course needs no defence – it is essential that academic relations between Iran and the UK remain active and reciprocal irrespective of our views on any particular Government. It is also critical that our students have the opportunity to listen to and debate views with which they disagree.

It is a privilege to have individuals from all countries, ideologies and faiths (or none) to visit Durham to debate and discuss. Only through respectful, personal dialogue can we appreciate other’s points of view (even if we disagree) or seek to influence them (if we do disagree).

Open and respectful debate, reflecting a diversity of views and generating new ideas, is what universities are for and that is what we must continue to stand for as long as the University exists.