French Far-right Leader Marine Le Pen Mobbed by Oxford Union Protesters

Leader of the French party National Front (FN) Marine Le Pen (C)
arrives to give a speech at the Oxford Union's prestigious
debating society in Oxford

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Controversial nationalist politician gives a speech at the prestigious Oxford Union, blaming Western society's ills on Islamic ideology

French far-right political leader Marine Le Pen has received a hostile reception at the Oxford Union where she was was [sic] invited to discuss western values.

Crowds of protesters gathered outside the building to denounce the controversial leader of France's far-right Front National.

Her speech to gathered union members was delayed by over one hour as the angry crowd attempted to block entrances.

Union officials have faced criticism for inviting Ms Le Pen to speak uninterrupted for five minutes, rather than insisting on a more traditional debate format where an opponent would have also been heard.

The disruption meant that many of those with tickets for her speech were unable to attend. Similarly the scrum outside the union meant that reporters were unable to get inside.

She is believed to have used her speech to blame Islamic ideology for the issues facing western society. » | Gregory Walton | Thursday, February 05, 2015