A nerve agent specialist says he was cut from a conference because of his political opinions on other issues.
Dan Kaszeta will no longer be speaking at tomorrow's Chemical Weapons Demilitarisation Conference, despite being invited to do so four months agoA global expert on nerve agents, stood down from speaking at a government-backed conference, says he believes it is because he is outspoken on a range of issues including asylum policy.The Ministry of Defence said checks on people speaking at government-organised events ensured a balanced discussion.
The American, who has been based in the UK for the past 13 years, told BBC Two's Newsnight he was "outraged" that the government's trawl through his Twitter account - on which he poked fun at Liz Truss, expressed anti-Brexit views and criticised asylum policy - means he can no longer share his knowledge with delegates from the government, industry, academia and armed forces.
"The check on your social media has identified material that criticises government officials and policy. It is for this reason and not because we do not value your technical insight, that I'm afraid that we have no choice and must cancel your invitation to the CWD conference.""This is an outrage against free speech. I was going to speak about possible future scenarios around the world in which chemical demilitarisation would be relevant.
that she had received an email saying it was because she had "made a criticism of government policy on social media".Mr Kaszeta argued that being a critic of some government policies should not prevent him taking part in an event on a completely unrelated subject.
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