Stop Islamic bias at Oxford University

<p>A Muslim background believer who is an ordinand for the Church of England (CofE) and is hoping to attain a curacy later this year on completion of his studies, has blown the lid on Islamic discrimination that has infiltrated one of the UK's most recognized education establishments. <br /><br />Shahriar Ashrafkhorasani (33 years) who is near completing his Applied Theology Masters (a pre-requisite for trainee CofE priests) at Oxford University says that he was prevented from asking critical questions about Islam, during a lecture. &nbsp; <br /><br />On the Suggestion of the BPCA, Mr Ashrafkhorasani has filed a formal complaint to the university&rsquo;s proctors&rsquo; office in which he claims the lecturer pointed at him in a seminar and said: &ldquo;Everybody can ask a question except you.&rdquo; Earlier complaints have been met with by half-hearted attempts for a resolution and Mr Ashrafkhorasani stopped proceedings &nbsp;because &nbsp;he was worried about his reputation and relationship. During a conversation with the BPCA he was advised that he was fully within his rights to pursue a complaint, which he re-opened.<br /><br />The lecturer, Minlib Dallh, is a research fellow at Regent&rsquo;s Park College in Oxford on a project about love in religion part-sponsored by the King of Jordan. <br /><br />Mr Ashrafkhorasani, who studies at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, alleges the lecturer refused to allow him to ask critical questions about the description of Islam as a religion of peace and love, that Mr Dallh was expounding on. He believes &nbsp;that Mr Dallh became cold and distant after being advised by Mr Ashrafkhorasani that he was a convert from Islam who had been persecuted in Iran. This discussion took place during a coffee break just before the final session of the lecture when the offensive targeting of Mr Ashrafkhorasani took place, during Q&A. <br /><br />Three other students who were at the same lecture have also written to the proctors office to confirm Mr Ashrafkhorasani's version of events. <br /><br />Mr Ashrafkhorasani said: <br /><br />&ldquo;The lecture was at best a very poor Islamic apologetic, and at worst academically dishonest and misleading. While the government is rightly concerned about Islamophobia, there is no concern whatsoever for Christianophobia.&rdquo;</p><p><strong>Read his full story&nbsp;<a href="http://www.britishpakistanichristians.org/blog/apostate-accuses-oxford-university-of-islamic-bias">(click here)</a></strong></p><p>We the undersigned petition Oxford University to:</p><ul><li>Review the complaint by Mr Ashrafkhorasani without any prejudice</li><li>To investigate potential bias within Oxford University linked to funding from Saudia Arabia and Jordan.</li><li>Explain to Mr Ashrafkhorasani how it was deemed acceptable for him to be targeted by a lecturer who openly restricted his freedom of speech without any valid reason.</li><li>Ensure in the same way that they protect against Islamophobia similar protections are given against Christianophobia</li><li>Review for assessing lecturers speaking at Oxford University</li><li>Condemn the inappropriate action taken by a lecturer which clearly discriminates against the rights of Muslim background believers.</li></ul>