When Queen’s University Belfast canceled a conference on the fallout from the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack over fears for its “security” and “reputation,” the school was roundly criticized for abandoning academic freedom.
Now it’s backtracked and scheduled the conference for June 4-5, according to London’s Little Atoms. It has a mildly plausible excuse:
“Following the completion of a comprehensive risk assessment, undertaken in line with approved protocols, the University is pleased to confirm that the Charlie Hebdo Research Symposium, organised by the Institute for Collaborative Research in the Humanities has been approved.”
English free speech advocacy group PEN praised the move, saying “we need as much opportunity for debate as possible at a time when the ability to exercise the right to freedom of expression remains highly vulnerable.”
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