GETTY Dawkins has been criticised for the comment aimed at Muslims

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The British scientist was appearing on a live TV chat show in the United States when he blasted "to hell with their culture" when referring to some practices in Islam, such as women being made to wear burkhas. Dawkins was appearing on the Bill Maher's HBO show and the pair were debating regressive liberals and, in particular, universities banning those with extreme views from giving lectures. The conversation turned to Islam when Dawkins criticised those afraid to confront the religion on some of its extreme practices, saying the religion was being given a "free pass". The 74-year-old said: "There's this notion Islam and Muslims are this protected species.

"That if we talk about them at all or criticise at all, it's somehow hurting or humiliating Muslims. It's a ridiculous idea." Host Maher then added liberals should protect those who are being repressed regardless of who it offends. He went on to say this includes women forced to wear religious clothing, which led to Dawkins extraordinary comment. Maher said: "We're on the side of the women's movement and poor and minorities and whatever. Gay people, the disabled, the abused, whatever Caitlyn (Jenner) is up to. We're all for it.

IG The scientist also said Islam is given a "free pass" due to racism fears

IG Maher and Dawkins were discussing 'regressive liberals' in the TV show

There's this notion Islam and Muslims are this protected species. Richard Dawkins

"And they (liberals) applaud that but if you say something about a woman being forced to wear a beekeeper suit in the hot sun all day…" Dawkins then took over saying: "But that's 'their culture' and you have to accept it. It's the one exception. Liberal about everything but this one exception, 'it's their culture'. "Well, to hell with their culture." Dawkins went on to say Islam had a "free pass" because of the "terror of being thought racist" if the religion is criticised.

He added: "It's confused with racism. An incredible number of people think Islam is a race. "And so they think if you criticise Islam you're being racist." Social media erupted over the conversation, with some criticising the strong use of language against Muslims. @MarceAriasSouto said: "This is just anti-Muslim bigotry. @billmaher was always a buffoon. Dawkins is becoming one." @vcw42 wrote: "Usually such attitude comes from ones conservative ignorance. In this case it's Bill's liberal arrogance. #nothelping"

Others spoke out in support of the pair. @ibrahimsapien said: "Given the context in which it was said, I agree. And I used to be Muslim. "There has to be objective absolute standards of human rights. No allowance for abuses just because they're labeled 'culture'. "That was his point. If your culture allows for wife beating or marital rape, 'to hell with your culture'. Is that so bad?" Maher and Dawkins started the discussing by criticising universities for banning extreme speakers. That was sparked by the news former Muslim Maryam Namazie had a visit to Warwick University cancelled.

Dawkins said it ridiculed the whole ethos of universities. He said: "At the university I went to, the University of California at Berkeley, we had the free speech movement in the 1960s. "What a betrayal we're seeing now with campuses all over America and Britain denying people the right to speak.

IG Twitter hit out at Dawkins comments after the show