Council urges schools to consider non-Halal option (From Harrow Times)

Can't see what all the fuss is about.

If Muslims are happy to put up with Non-Halal meat in schools where they are a minority why shouldn't others accept Halal meat in schools where Muslims are the majority?

And we're trying to teach others about democracy!

Salaam

All children should be offered a choice. That way Muslims can eat what they want and non-Muslims can eat what they want.

There are couples of state schools in Harrow where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies so that non-Muslim children could enjoy their own meals in their own schools.

We live in a shrunken world and millions of people are on the move; one of our biggest challenges is how we learn to live in proximity to difference – different skin colours, different beliefs and different way of life. According to a study by COMPAS, Muslims born and educated were given the impression of outsiders. The perception among Muslims is that they are unwelcome in Britain is undermining efforts to help them integrate into wider society. Most of them say that they have experienced race discrimination and religious prejudice. Muslims and Islam is promoted a fundamentalist and separatist by the western elite, which have negative impact on community and social cohesion. The number of racist incidents occurring in London Borough of Redbridge’s schools have reached their highest levels since record begin.

A City or a locality, where Muslims are in majority is a ghetto. There is a tendency for people of similar backgrounds to live together in neighourhoods. The term”ghettoisation
” is inappropriate. The original ghettos in Europe during the middle ages were set up by law to confine the Jewish population to one area of a city. According to a research by an Australian academic that Muslim communities in Britain are being increasingly ghettoized in a trend that set back hopes of assimilation by years. Britain has now eight cities in the top 100 most ghettoized cities. The people from the Pakistani community in Bradford and Oldham and Leicester had trebled during the decade. A report by an academic Dr Alan Carling, that Bradford risks becoming a front line in the global clash between the West and Islam. But Islam and Muslims do not clash with the concepts of pluralism, secularism and globalisation. The native flight from Bradford’s inner-city wards showed clear evidence of an increase in segregation in the city since 1991. Native parents are avoiding sending their children in state schools where Muslims and other minorities are in majority. The dominance of Pakistani Muslims in the city has meant that Bradford has become bi-cultural.

Immigrants are the creators of Britain new wealth, otherwise, inner cities deprived areas could not get new lease of life. The native Brits regard such areas as ghettoes. Integration is not religious and cultural, it is economic and Muslims are well integrated into British society and at the same time they are proud of their Islamic, linguistic and cultural identities, inspite of discrimination they have been facing in all walks of life. According to UN, 80% of British Muslims feel discriminated. They are less burden on social services. Immigrants made up 8.7% of the population, but accounted for10.2% of all collected income tax

It is often quoted by the Western media that Muslim schools ghettoizse the children, and even lead to their radicalisation if they are not integrated. There is no evidence that faith schools lead to a “ghettoized education system. In British schools, pupils are encouraged to focus too much on their similarities rather than their differences. The integrationist approach merely results in Muslims feeling that their faith, language and culture is not respected.

A report by the Institute for Community Cohesion found that native parents were deserting some schools after finding their children out numbered by pupils from ethnic minorities. Schools in parts of England are becoming increasingly segregated. The study focused on 13 local authorities. Many of the schools and colleges are segregated and this was generally worsening over recent years. This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism. My statement regarding Muslim schools where there is no place for non-Muslim child or a teacher is based on educational process and not on racism. Muslim children need Muslim teachers during their developmental periods. For higher studies and reserech, Muslim teacher is not a priority.
Iftikhar Ahmad
http://www.londonsch
oolofislamics.org.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad states that,

"This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism."

I object strongly to this sweeping generalisation.

In response to Iftikhar's assertion that, "Muslims and Islam is promoted a (sic) fundamentalist and separatist by the western elite, which have negative impact on community and social cohesion."

Might I refer him and others to Dr Emanual Tanay's "A German's Point of View on Islam.
http://www.icjs-onli
ne.org/index.php?art
icle=1414

Islam, we are told is a fundamentally peaceful religion, as are I think you will find most main stream religions. However, the lack of action by the peaceful majority against the violent fundamentalist minority is truly mind boggling. How can the peaceful majority see their beloved religion being hi-jacked in such a way?

Personally I find any form of religion incompatible with the way the world is today, science and evolution.

Iftikhar Ahmad said:

"This is RACISM because British society is the home of institutional racism."

This made me laugh. Having lived in a number of counties, I can honestly say that English people are by far the least racist people you are likely to meet.

What made me laugh even harder is that Iftikhar Ahmad then goes on to talk about how there is no place for a non-muslim child or teacher in a muslim school. But fear not fellow readers, this is because of "educational process" NOT racism.

Iftikhar Ahmad, you have reinforced my opinion that religion will only ever harm humanity in the long run.

I'm with voiceoftreason on this one. I have travelled around the US, Australia and most of mainland Europe and I can honestly say that the UK is the most welcoming to ethnic minorities. Social cohesion between different races/religions will always be strained wherever you go in the world. The idea of 'religious academies' frightens me to death. Segragation in all its forms should be stopped if we ever hope to coexist peacefully.

I think it is also worth pointing out that racism works both ways and is not somehow exclusive to white Europeans. I have met many black and asian people that have held VERY racist views about other races and cultures, including white people. Worryingly, this is often dismissed as "cultural".

We know the damage religion causes on a worldwide basis, now we are seeing its harmful effects in our own borough. Separation of schools on a religious basis is fundamentally wrong and plays into the hands of the Islamic minority who certainly do not have the best interests of this country at heart.
All education should be secular with religious teaching carried out in the home or in places of worship but not our taxpayer funded schools.

Amen to that netpolymath.

Let educators educate and leave it to parents to indoctrinate their children.

Is brainwashing the vulnerable a crime in the UK?

Thanks Jack to inform us that Harrow Council is finally taking their responsibility and accountability seriously and taking into consideration the needs of 97% of the Harrovians.
Councilliors and their officers need to educate themselves in dealing with all faiths and their needs.
SACRE had provided schools and colleges guidance booklet but it is collecting dust on the shelves of the school offices.
Now it is the time to damage control and bring back harmony and peace to our diverse society.
Schools and colleges if providing hot meals must provide non-halal meat option at the same time. For example if a school provides Halal Chicken and Lamb on Mondays then if any student wants to eat Non-Halal chicken on that day what choice has he/she got?

I urge the headteachers and governing bodies to consult SACRE and Harrow Interfaith for correct guidance and help us bring back harmony to the society.

The cost element does not wash with the parents,staff and students.

It is people like Iftekar Ahmad giving Islam a bad name and gehttosizing areas of the U.K. This type of comments only fuel disharmony and disrespect to Islam too.

We urge dialogue and openness where all faith groups and non-faith groups come to consensus and impartially resolve all sensitive issues.

Westminster is watching how we in Harrow solve the "HALAL MEAT in MEALS ONLY OPTION" sensibly.

God Bless.
Paramjit Singh