University student falsely accused of being terrorist for reading book in library - Telegraph

24.9.15

University student falsely accused of being terrorist for reading book in library - Telegraph: Mohammed Umar Farooq, who studies counter-terrorism at the institution, was spotted reading a textbook entitled Terrorism Studies in the college library and was questioned by a complaints officer.

Mohammed Umar Farooq, told the Guardian that he was questioned about attitudes to homosexuality, Islamic State (Isis) and al-Qaida.

Mr Farooq is said to have expressed his opposition to extremist ideologies but the conversation was reported to security guards for raising “too many red flags”, according to the report.

“I could not believe it. I was reading an academic textbook and minding my own business. At first I thought I’d just laugh it off as a joke,” said Farooq

Initially, Mr Farooq, who instructed a lawyer to help him challenge and rebut the claims, had assumed he was having a discussion with a peer.