Extremism wins

I concur with the view that your journalist, Noah Yim, deserves respect for his reporting on the University of Sydney’s concessions to anti-Israel protesters for closing their campus encampment peacefully (“ ‘Faustian’ uni deal”, Letters, 24/6). The university’s Muslim Students Association is to get a seat at a working group to review the university’s defence and security investments.

The association has links to Hizb-ut Tahrir, an organisation proscribed as a terrorist organisation in many countries. Hizb-ut Tahrir backers delivered sermons and lectures at the Sydney University student encampment.

Without movements such as Hizb-ut Tahrir creating the moral imperatives to justify terror, our wannabe jihadis wouldn’t have the support of an ideological infrastructure to cheer them on.

Whether we judge that Hizbut Tahrir should be fought with continuous debate rather than banning, it remains a fact the University of Sydney’s decision amounts to a massive capitulation to extremism, sets a poor precedent and rewards continued discrimination against Jews and unlawful behaviour. In that context the statement by a university spokeswoman that “we are pleased our proposal has been accepted” is risible. Is the university going to invite members of the Evangelical Union student club on to its defence investments working group?

Anthony Bergin, Reid, ACT

The Victoria Police presence at the Jerry Seinfeld show at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night in Melbourne’s CBD guaranteed public safety and ensured Seinfeld could safely respond to the anti-Jewish protesters hurling vile abuse. Then next day police were out in force again to ensure public safety at the latest of the pro-Palestinian protests.

How much longer are we going to allow this drain on the Victorian public purse and resources to go on?

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic