16 March 2016

Women segregated at LSE’s Islamic society banquet

The Islamic society of the London School of Economics has been criticised for hosting a banquet at which men and women were segregated by a screen 7ft high and had to dial separate phone numbers to buy tickets.

The event was held at the Grand Connaught Rooms, near the university in Holborn, on Sunday night. Tickets to the dinner, which cost £20, sold out.

The general secretary of LSE Students’ Union, who attended the event, described it as “comfortable and relaxed.” Nona Buckley-Irvine said that she had a lovely time at the dinner and “barely noticed” the separation.

She also defended the preference of Muslims students, saying that “where groups would like to organise themselves in a way that fits with their religious, cultural and personal beliefs, both genders consent, and there is no issue, I have no problem”. [The Times (£)] Read more