Mazhar Alam
Mazhar.Alam@arabbanking.com

Breeding barbarism

DAVID BELL is right to point out the dangers of permitting Muslims to shut themselves away in separate schools.

This reinforces an education that can be inimical to life in a liberal democracy. What, for instance, are children in these schools taught about homosexuality? In some Islamic states this is a capital offence, with sentences that include the victim having a wall demolished on top of him, being thrown from a high cliff or being stoned to death. Will they learn that such barbarism is right?

In this country we have grown used to a tolerant approach. We are concerned at the attitudes being instilled in children in these ghettoised Muslim schools.

]George Broadhead,
Secretary, Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association,
Kenilworth, Warwickshire

A broad curriculum

THERE is nothing wrong with Muslims wishing to educate their children in the ways of Islam, even if it means placing them in an Islamic school. It should be viewed no differently to placing a child in a Church of England or Catholic school.

However, it is important that even these faith schools teach a broad curriculum, including learning about other faiths.

Only to teach one way of seeing the world breeds misunderstanding that can lead to prejudice and hatred for the unfamiliar. Since most faiths teach tolerance of others, this message should be brought home to the young.

As for Mr Bell being an Islamophobe, I have never heard such rubbish. He gave his honest view, whether or not the Muslim community like it.

C. Carr,
Gosport, Hampshire

Take it outside

I ASK myself what interest Muslims have in social cohesion. It is a missionary faith with a central tenet of mass conversion of non-Muslims. Surely this principle is in conflict with the objective of social cohesion?

In my mind, it is only a question of time until a far larger proportion of Muslim children are sent to single-faith schools. This sort of teaching should be put outside normal school hours.

I am appalled that Mohamad Mukadam, chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools, should accuse Mr Bell of Islamophobia. It seems that all sensible discussion of Islam is to be deemed “Islamaphobic”.

Harvey Anwar
mail4harv@yahoo.com

Learn the truth

MR BELL’S remarks reveal his ignorance of faith schools and their contribution to society, and put hard-working and committed schools at further risk of prejudice. When Mr Bell said “traditional Islamic education does not entirely fit pupils for their lives as Muslims in modern Britain”, he ignored that Muslim schools, both traditional and modern, have diversity and citizenship at the heart of their school ethos.

One of the primary aims of a Muslim school is to instill a respect for others; to make people value others’ views and live as peaceful and loyal citizens. If this is not the result of a good schooling, albeit done in underfunded and under- resourced conditions, then what is?

Hassan Ahmed,
hahmed@waltham.ac.uk

Knowledge is key

ISLAMIC schools are committed to teaching the national curriculum, which includes education in all religions available in the UK. This enables our children to understand society. I don’t know where David Bell gets the idea that there is a lack of tolerance. Islam has an excellent record of tolerance towards other religions. It is part of the Koran that there is no compulsion in religion; anyone can choose any other.

The lack of teaching of proper Islamic education has seen the emergence of extremists. This is because Muslim youngsters who have no comprehensive knowledge of Islam can be easily influenced by radical individuals posing as “scholars”. We do not tolerate these extremists’ violent actions. We want to see our pupils go on to become lawyers, engineers, doctors and politicians and become fully integrated into British society.

Ghassan Nounu,
Bristol Islamic Schools Trust

Sad segregation

I FULLY believe in multicultural diversity and I respect all beliefs. I also feel strongly that it is important to adapt to the country in which you live.

I am not saying we need to go to France’s extreme, but I have driven past Dr Mukadam’s Leicester Islamic Academy many times and I am always saddened by the sight of hundreds of young girls in full hijab, particularly in the heat of summer.

They are surrounded only by people the same as themselves. Children need diversity at school in order to appreciate and respect those who are different.

Aman Kular,
address withheld