Reports of Gender-Segregated Seating at a Debate at the University College of London

The Islamic Education and Research Academy sponsored a debate at the University College of London entitled, “Islam or Atheism: Which Makes More Sense?”

Published reports stated that when guests arrived they were told that single women would be segregated at the back of the auditorium. A woman who was accompanied by a man could sit with the man anywhere in the hall. When Professor Lawrence Krauss, who was presenting the atheist argument became aware of the segregated seating, he left the auditorium in protest. He was later convinced to come back when he was told that the segregated seating plan would be abandoned.

Event organizers said that they had provided a special section for Muslim women who chose to self-segregate by gender but that no women were forced to sit in the section. However, some observers said that they saw women escorted out of the hall because they refused to abide by the segregated seating arrangement.

Later, the University College of London banned the Islamic Education and Research Academy from holding further events on campus.