Motion S4M-12215: Radicalisation in Nurseries and Universities

30 Jan 2015

That the Parliament notes concerns expressed by children’s organisations, human rights organisations, religious leaders and several Scottish universities regarding the UK Government’s plans to impose new education regulations as part of proposed anti-terror legislation; understands that this legislation could mean that universities would have to provide details of foreign speakers to the authorities at least two weeks in advance of any speech, including information in relation to the topics that the speakers will cover; further understands that nursery staff would be expected to monitor children as young as two years old for signs of radicalisation; believes that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that children in Glasgow Shettleston or in Scotland as a whole are becoming radicalised, and hopes that individuals, organisations and governments will act proportionately when considering the balance between protecting citizens and protecting liberal democratic traditions, particularly freedom of speech and thought.