Islamic scholar expresses outrage over cancellation of 'Progressive Islam' presentation

PROGRESSIVE ISLAMIC scholar and imam Dr Taj Hargey said he had been left “livid” after his presentation on “Progressive Islam - The Future of the Faith - What is the Best Pathway for Muslims Today?”, which was scheduled to take place yesterday (Tuesday) at Sastri College had been cancelled. 

Hargey, who is the president of the Open Mosque in Cape Town and director of the Oxford Institute for British Islam, said he believed it was a violation of his Constitutional right to freedom of expression. 

He said he had previously spoken at the college, which is his alma mater, and shared a relationship with Professor Jairam Reddy, the chairperson of the Sastri College Alumni Association for many decades. 

Hargey, who was born in South Africa, and now resides in the UK, said about two months ago while planning for his trip to Durban where he would be attending a reunion with his friends that he had matriculated with from the college, he approached Reddy with the idea to have the presentation. 

“Professor Reddy seemed very happy for me to do it and went on to propose the idea to the association, who initially approved. We started doing some publicity and even made the notices about the presentation which include all of the details. 

“However, about two weeks back all hell broke loose. The alumni association called a special meeting, where they said they were worried about ‘what would the Muslim parents think about having a progressive Muslim scholar speak at the school’ . However, I believe my presentation was abruptly cancelled owing to an unholy alliance between BJP-aligned acolytes and orthodox Muslim zealots in the association,” he said. 

Hargey said he thereafter suggested to Reddy that instead of cancelling the event, they find an alternate venue. 

“He suggested the 1860 Heritage Centre, but unknown to me and without my approval, they then changed the title of my presentation and its format. I was meant to give a full Powerpoint presentation, speak for about an hour, and thereafter there would be a Q&A session. 

“But they decided they weren't going to do that.  Instead they changed the presentation title to just ‘Progressive Islam’ removing all the sub-topics it included, I was also going to have an informal discussion and the worst part was that they were only going to allow selected people that they invited to attend, it would not be open to the public. I  wanted the talk open to the public, because what’s there to hide? People can either agree or disagree with me, but cannot deny me of my freedom of expression. I am livid about this situation. 

“We are supposed to be living in a society where everyone has the right to freedom of speech unless it calls for violence, something that I don't do. No self-respecting scholar, someone like me who is the first South African Muslim to achieve a PhD from the Oxford University, a trailblazer, would accept their presentation being changed without their approval. So I wrote back and said I was not willing to accept the conditions. 

“Lastly, the alumni association has illustrated that a once venerable Sastri College is no longer an institution fostering unfettered free expression and critical thinking but a place where bigoted censorship and partisan control reigns supreme,” he said.

In a joint statement,  Reddy, who is also the chairperson of the 1860 History Society, and Selvan Naidoo, director at the 1860 Heritage Centre said:  “From time to time the Sastri College Alumni Society, the college, and the governing board host lectures that are appropriate to society and at their discretion. The offer by Dr Hargey to lecture on ‘Progressive Islam’ was carefully considered. Due to the potentially contentious and controversial nature of topics on religion, it was decided not to host this lecture.

“However, the History Society at the 1860 Heritage Centre did make an offer to Dr Hargey to host his lecture on ‘Progressive Islam’. It was decided to invite a network of attendees of between 50 to 75 people who would be able to engage with him in some depth and possibly chart a way for the future of  ‘Progressive Islam’. 

“We also offered to invite the press and try to arrange a radio interview. He was to be provided with a PowerPoint facility to present his lecture ‘uncensored’. Regrettably, he declined the offer.”

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