University
says Farah Ahmed did not write the comments in a 2002 publication and
they do not reflect her views
Cambridge
University has defended an academic after a publication she
contributed to more than 20 years ago called for Muslims to study
engineering and computer technology to help produce weapons for
“Jihad”.
Dr Farah Ahmed, now an assistant research professor
at Cambridge’s Faculty of Education, contributed to the 2002
publication produced by Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist group which was
banned as a terrorist organisation in Britain in 2024.
The writings were revealed by The
Spectator, which reported that Ahmed and
senior Hizb ut-Tahrir activist Nazreen Nawaz contributed to a chapter
setting out plans for an Islamic education system.
The chapter stated: “The motivation to study
engineering would be to aid the development of machinery for Jihad
and Allah’s reward for this is immeasurable.”
It continued: “The motivation for studying computer
technology would be to elevate the Islamic society over all other
societies in the world, to show it as a shining example and to
produce advanced weaponry for Jihad in order that the deen (Islam)
may dominate over all other deens as commanded by the Creator.”
The same chapter also contained a section on “the
training of teachers”, according to The
Spectator. Ahmed now works in Cambridge’s
Faculty of Education, where her research focuses on education.
Cambridge has now told Jewish
News that Ahmed says the comments were not
written by her and do not represent her views.
A spokesperson for the Faculty of Education,
University of Cambridge, said: “These comments were made in an
article to which Dr Ahmed contributed as a historical researcher more
than 20 years ago. She has said that they are not her words and do
not reflect her views. Dr Ahmed also reiterated that she ended her
association with Hizb ut-Tahrir more than 15 years ago, long before
the group was proscribed. Her appointment at Cambridge followed a
standard recruitment process and complied fully with the University’s
legal obligations as an employer.”
Ahmed previously said in 2010 that she no longer
supported “all” the views of Hizb ut-Tahrir and had not recently
been involved with the organisation.
The revelations follow separate scrutiny of an
education project led by Ahmed which promotes an Islamic curriculum.
The
Spectator reported last week that
teaching material promoted by the project described Israelis taken
hostage by Hamas on 7 October as “prisoners of war”, called Hamas
an “excuse” used by Israel to justify attacks on Gaza and
included a map on which Israel did not appear.
Hizb ut-Tahrir was proscribed by the UK government on
19 January 2024. Announcing the ban, the government described it as
an antisemitic organisation which “actively promotes and encourages
terrorism” and pointed to its praise for the Hamas attacks on
Israel on 7 October 2023.
By Annabel
Sinclair August 25, 2026 - Jewish News