Deakin University has responded to vocal criticism of its decision to allow a Muslim group to hold workshops at its Melbourne campus.

The Islamic Research and Educational Academy recently hosted “The Art of Da’wah” workshops at Deakin’s Burwood campus.

The sessions promised to help attendees “learn the art and gain the confidence to talk about Islam to anyone, anywhere and at any time”.

The Islamic concept of da’wah describes ways to invite Muslims and non-Muslims to understand the worship of Allah.

The workshops were allegedly based on the teachings of “legendary” scholars Zakir Naik and Ahmed Deedat.

Dr Naik is a controversial figure who has been banned from Britain, Canada and parts of India, for his rhetorical support for extreme Islamists.

The books of Sheik Deedat, who died in 2005, have been banned from sale in France for over twenty years after censors decided they were too “violently anti-Western, anti-Semitic and inciting to racial hate.”

Deedat’s da’wah centre was allegedly financed by the infamous bin Laden family, and the Sheik even publically praised Osama bin Laden after meeting him.

Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin, Greg Barton, has told News Corp reporters said it was good that the University allowed the workshops on the grounds of encouraging the fair and open ­exchange of ideas, but agreed that some opponents’ concerns were valid.

“When it comes to Zakir Naik, there are reasons to be concerned,” Professor Barton told The Weekend Australian.

“The questions around this event will be who is speaking and what line they take.

“In Australia at the moment we face a very serious struggle with ­violent extremist being recruited from our suburbs, and even from our tertiary institutions, and we have to be wise about how we ­engage.

“If we simply close the doors on everything - that can support the extremists’ rhetoric.”

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander has defended the classes too.

“Deakin University will vigorously support and uphold the principles of academic and intellectual freedom and the right to freedom of expression,” she said in a statement

“It will do this to the full extent practicably possible and within the context of the Australian laws and the Australian way of life. This remains the bedrock and core value of the institution.

“I also recognise that Deakin University has a responsibility... to ensure that it does not knowingly support ... any groups, individuals or messages that seek to promote or propagate hatred, discrimination, violence or which vilify others.

“Deakin University abhors and rejects such entities, their messages and activities.

“We will continue to refine our processes to ensure that these critical principles drive decisions about how our facilities are used by external groups in the future.”