The leader of Germany’s main far-right party has pulled out of a talk at the Oxford Union next week, citing security concerns after protests against her appearance.
Alice Weidel, 39, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was invited to speak by the debating society despite anger from professors and students.
Up to 30 societies at the University of Oxford signed a letter calling for the Oxford Union, which is independent to the university, to revoke its ‘concerning’ invitation.
Alice Weidel (pictured), 39, leader of the Alternative for Germany party, has pulled out of a talk at the Oxford Union next week after student backlash
AfD is the largest opposition party in the German parliament and holds regular rallies where immigrants and Muslims are targeted for abuse.
It has gone on to play an influential role in the growing number of nationalist parties such as the National Front in France, led by Marine Le Pen, and Austria’s Freedom Party.
Dr Weidel was due to talk on Wednesday at the Oxford Union, which described her as ‘outspoken on issues such as the refugee crisis and traditional social values’.
A letter organised by the Oxford Labour Muslim Network said that offering a platform for ‘hate speech’ must ‘not be conflated with freedom of speech’, and that the Oxford Union had ‘frequently been on the wrong side of history by platforming far-right extremists’.
Up to 30 societies at the University of Oxford signed a letter calling on the Oxford Union, which is independent to the university, to revoke its ‘concerning’ invitation (stock)
Dr Weidel was due to talk on Wednesday at the Oxford Union, which described her as ‘outspoken on issues such as the refugee crisis and traditional social values’
However, Ms Le Pen and Nick Griffin, the former leader of the British National Party have spoken at the union before.
An Oxford Union spokeswoman said that the society was ‘committed to the principles of political neutrality and free speech’ and said that members could challenge Dr Weidel’s views after the speech but Stephen Horvath, the society’s president, later told The Times: ‘Alice Weidel has cancelled her trip to the UK due to concerns with the security arrangements for aspects of her travels and engagements.’
A spokesman for the university societies welcomed the news but said: ‘It is deeply regrettable that the union saw fit to invite an unashamed racist to speak in the first place.’
Paul Betts, a history professor at St Antony’s College, said it was an ‘irresponsible’ invitation, adding: ‘Her party’s anti-Muslim race-baiting politics has no place in a city that prides itself on tolerance, diversity and aversion to extremisms of all kinds.’