The head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission asked Oxford University's debating society today to review its decision to invite holocaust denier David Irving to speak at a free speech forum.
Historian Irving will be a speaker at Monday's event, which has been organised by the Oxford Union's inner debating chamber, as will National Party leader Nick Griffin.
"People have died for freedom of speech," the EHRC's head Trevor Phillips, told the BBC. "They didn't fight and die for it so it could be used as a silly parlour game."
"Nobody needs to invite these people to deny the holocaust. The issues are too serious. I would say to the Oxford Union - think again. If this goes ahead I hope the Oxford students will turn their backs on this shabby exhibition."
The president of the Oxford Union Debating Society Luke Tryl could not be reached for comment.
The invitations to the forum have been opposed by the Oxford Student Union and the university's Muslim and Jewish societies.
Irving, a self-taught historian, was arrested in Austria after his arrival on a visit in November 2005. He spent more than a year in an Austrian jail for denying the Nazis organised mass murder of six million Jews during World War Two.
Last year Griffin was twice cleared of inciting racial hatred. The BNP commands nothing like the influence of similar far-right parties across Europe but holds several seats on local councils.
The EHRC is a public agency that fights discrimination.