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Thu 31 May 2012
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UCL faces lawsuit from Islamic student group
Tue 06 Apr 2010
The Federation of Student Islamic Societies has criticised University College London (UCL) for handing the names and addresses of some Muslim students to the police.
Personal information relating to almost 1,000 Muslim students was given to the Metropolitan Police after it requested membership details of the UCL Islamic Society.
The group refused the request, although the membership details were later handed over by the UCL's student union, the Evening Standard reports.
According to the Federation of Student Islamic Studies, many of those whose details have been passed to police now fear they could be scrutinised by intelligence agencies in the US.
The organisation has confirmed that it has sought legal advice regarding the university's actions, although the institution itself has made no official comment on the matter.
This comes after one of UCL's former students - Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - attempted to blow up a passenger jet on Christmas Day 2009.
Malcolm Grant, president and provost of UCL, recently stated that the higher education sector must work to ensure that universities do not become "hotbeds of radicalisation".
Stephen Hart, a solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood Solicitors, commented: "This area is a potential nightmare for universities and for their relations with their students' union.
"Here, UCL's students' union will have had to balance data protection legislation against the requirements to disclose information to the police.
"Universities should be aware that the police have far-reaching powers under security legislation and they should seek legal support when facing requests of this nature." 
