15th May 2001

Thanks to pressure from a host of campaigning groups including; OUSU, OU Jewish Society, OU LGB Society, OUSU Queer Rights Campaign Group, OUSU Anti-Racism Committee, NUS Liberation Campaigns, the Union of Jewish Students, various trade union branches and others, the Oxford Union revoked an invition to the famous Holcaust denier, David Irving last week. The event was to have been the first public engagement attended by David Irving since he lost his libel case and was publically branded a Holocaust denier.

The trial Judge, Lord Justice Gray, had said at that time;
"Irving has for his own ideological reasons persistently and deliberately misrepresented and manipulated historical evidence ... he has portrayed Hitler in an unwarrantedly favourable light, principally in relation to his attitude towards and responsibility for the treatment of the Jews; ... he is an active Holocaust denier; ... he is anti-Semitic and racist and ... he associates with right-wing extremists who promote neo-Nazism."

Given this it seemed amazing to many that the union had invited Irving. They had argued that Mr Irving was not invited to speak about himself or his views, but on a debate called 'this house would restrict the freedom of speech of extremists'. Matthew Taylor of the Oxford Union stated;
"We are very disappointed, but the Union came under a lot of pressure from various sides. Originally, the decision was taken that, as someone who had tried to restrict other people's free speech and promote his own free speech, he would have something to offer the debate."

Given recent problems associated with the recnt rise of far-right activity in the country, campaigners had argued that besides the arguement that the union should take a more princpled stance, there would be safety implications. Antonia Bance of the NUS Women's Committee said;"
There is the issue of student and town safety. David Irving regularly speaks at far-right meetings and is known to have links to neo-Nazi groups. The visit to the union has been advertised on a Combat 18 website and in BNP and National Front chatrooms. We do not want far-right thugs in Oxford, as inevitably people suffer. It was no coincidence that just hours after the NF march in Bermondsey an Asian youth was assaulted. Thames Valley Police are not prepared to take the threat of the far-right seriously, and are refusing to advise the event be cancelled or even that extra police be laid on for the evening, forgetting that the venue is in the main shopping area in Oxford and metres from both student accomodation and a lesbian and gay community centre."

In an open letter, David Triesman, the Association of University Teachers' general secretary had threatened;
"By denying the terrible atrocities committed during the holocaust, David Irving denied the freedom and experience of others. If the Oxford Union feels compelled to allow him to appear then I must inform you that this would leave me no other option than to call for an academic boycott."

Guardian, 9th May 2001
Guardian Comment
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