What began as a discussion over whether women and men should be asked to sit separately has now got some familiar undertones.

Today, Prime Minister David Cameron essentially said it should not happen.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said we should not ‘pander to extremism’. The point being it is only the ‘extremist speakers’ who will want men and women to sit separately.

This we know from experience is not the case at all.

When it comes to Muslim events in some universities and those in other public places men and women tend to sit separately.

I have been to events supported by the public funded money where the audience actually sits separately.

At one event which aimed to ‘counter extremism’ - men and women were asked to sit in separate seating areas. I do not recall anyone making a huge issue out of this at the time.

I do not agree that speakers or organisers of events at universities or colleges should request men and women to sit separately.

But I also don’t think there is anything ‘extreme’ about it.

A university is a place of learning and I think students have the common sense to decide for themselves where to sit.

Do women sit separate from men at learning institutions in the Middle East and North Africa? Not 100 per cent of the time.

What you will find is that in many of these events the audience will voluntarily sit separately. A request need to be made at all.

At most Islamic events men and women tend to find their own areas to sit in. So, is there any real need for anyone to actually request this in the first place?

I think at this stage this are more pressing issues than who is sat where and with whom.

All this talk of equality and ‘freedom of choice’ has very little to do with the debate now.

Any Islamic speaker who requests this, should be advised quite simply that this is a public place of education and people can sit where they want.

If they wish to enforce this then there is always the mosque.

Not sure that will be an issue here as most women, not out of choice, tend not to set foot in one!