Liberal comedian Bill Maher's "racist and bigoted" comments on Islam has attracted the ire of University of California-Berkeley students who have petitioned for the "Real Time" television host to refrain from speaking on campus.
After being invited to Berkeley's upcoming graduation ceremony, a student petition is now demanding that the university revoke its invitation for the liberal comedian to speak at the December commencement ceremony, according to TheBlaze. Launched and circulated on change.org since Thursday, the petition has managed to gather more than 2,200 signatures.
"Bill Maher is a blatant bigot and racist who has no respect for the values UC Berkeley students and administration stand for," the petition stated. "In a time where climate is a priority for all on campus, we cannot invite an individual who himself perpetuates a dangerous learning environment. Bill Maher's public statements on various religions and cultures are offensive and his dangerous rhetoric has found its way into our campus communities."
Recently, Maher's outspoken views about how Islam fosters violence have made national headlines, sparking criticism and backlash, according to The Daily Californian. "Dealing with Hamas is like dealing with a crazy woman who's trying to kill you - you can only hold her wrists so long before you have to slap her," Maher said in one instance. "The Muslim world has too much in common with ISIS," he stated on another occasion.
Earlier this month on HBO talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher," Ben Affleck deemed another guest, author Sam Harris, and host Maher's views on Islam as "gross and racist" after Maher criticized liberals for not "stand[ing] up for liberal principles."
Maher "specifically pointed at the Muslim world as an example of an area where the freedom of religion and speech and equality for women, minorities and homosexuals is being curtailed," according to Politico.
"Islam is the only religion that acts like the mafia, that will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture or write the wrong book," Maher said.
Citing recent statements of Islam as examples of Maher's perceived bigotry, the petition's authors, UC Berkeley student government senator Marium Navid and Khwaja Ahmed, stated that even though they respect Maher's right to free speech, a commencement address would serve to provide his remarks with greater authority.
"The problem is that when you bring him to the university, you're pretty much putting him into a privileged position," she said. You're raising his voice," Navid told the San Jose Mercury News in a subsequent interview. Ahmed is a member of the Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian Coalition, which is a supporter of Navid.
Meanwhile, atheist Maher has also "often argued that Islam has a worse influence on contemporary society than other religions," Politico reported.
