Saturday, March 31, 2007
Couple deny terrorist activities
A husband and wife have appeared at the Old Bailey accused of engaging in terrorist activity.
Habib Ahmed, 26, denies three charges of having information for terrorism and one charge of receiving weapons training for terrorism in Pakistan.
His wife, Mehreen Haji, 26, denies two charges of raising money to be used by Mr Ahmed for terrorism.
The couple, from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, were told they would face trial in January next year.
Mr Ahmed appeared in court by video link and was remanded back into custody. Mrs Haji was remanded on bail.
Habib Ahmed, 26, denies three charges of having information for terrorism and one charge of receiving weapons training for terrorism in Pakistan.
His wife, Mehreen Haji, 26, denies two charges of raising money to be used by Mr Ahmed for terrorism.
The couple, from Cheetham Hill, Manchester, were told they would face trial in January next year.
Mr Ahmed appeared in court by video link and was remanded back into custody. Mrs Haji was remanded on bail.
Friday, March 30, 2007
MP tells mosques to fly the flag
An MP today urged Muslims across the country to fly the Union flag on mosques to show their unity and commitment to Britain.Shipley MP Philip Davies wants Muslim communities to adopt the measures after similar demands were made in Australia.
He argued that such a move would "publicly show everyone that those in the Muslim community are very keen to integrate and positively contribute to good community relations in the UK".
Mr Davies was due to table a parliamentary petition today praising the Australian proposal and urging British Muslims to fly the flag in the grounds of mosques.
He said: "Everyone has always said about the importance of community cohesion so what better example could there be for Muslims to make clear their loyalty to the UK by flying the Union flag.
"If it is good enough for them to do it in Australia I do not see why it is not good enough for Muslims to do in Britain.
"This action would demonstrate the Muslim community's commitment to the UK and it is a very effective way of countering any negative publicity."
Mr Davies's move follows similar demands in Australia. The former chairman of the Australian Prime Minister's Muslim reference group, Ameer Ali, pushed for the Australian Muslim community to fly the flag outside the nation's mosques as an expression of the Islamic community's "loyalty" and commitment to the country.
It urged Australia's 300,000 Muslims to back the idea as a symbol of "integration" and pride.
One of Australia's most respected female Muslim leaders, Aziza Abdel-Halim, said displaying a national flag outside mosques would not conflict with Islamic teachings.
However some community members opposed the move. And Mr Davies' suggestion has met with caution among Bradford's Muslim communities.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, spokesman for Bradford Council of Mosques, described the suggestion as "grossly insulting".
He said: "We are totally opposed to this kind of tokenistic approach and badly thought-out idea. Muslims would find it grossly insulting and as far as I am concerned we are citizens of this country and it is wrong to question our integrity and commitment to this country.
"Where will it end? Will people want us to wear the Union Jack on our clothing to prove we are loyal."
Molana Fazal Dad, senior Imam of Abu Bakr Mosque in Leeds Road, said he could understand why the suggestion has been made.
But he said: "But he (Philip Davies) will have to think of mosques as a spiritual place rather then something that involves politics.
"In history mosques have never flown any sort of flag because Islam is a religion that covers every nation.
"Personally, I do have my loyalties to being British but a mosque is somewhere where everyone goes. I do not think this is something a lot of people will take well. They will think somebody is ramming something down their throats.
"Most people who attend mosques have their loyalties to the British Government already so they will think this is to satisfy other people's feelings.
"If it went ahead there is nothing stopping us putting a Union Jack up there - we are part and parcel of the country but it is just the beginning of this process that makes people feel they could be having it forced upon them."
Rashid Awan, president of the Pakistan Society of West Yorkshire, warned against the measure saying hatred could still be bred, despite a flag being flown. He said: "It is unthinkable and unwise. To fly the flag does not really resolve the problem and does not constitute loyalty. People could fly the flag but still be being fed the wrong message and breeding hatred inside. We have to win hearts and minds.
"The British Government is doing that to the best of its ability. The Muslim community is loyal to Britain, except a few people. I would not approve this sort of measures - it is undermining the good work of the Government."
He stressed the bombers responsible for the attacks in which 52 people were murdered in London on July 7, 2005, were British-born. Bary Malik, chairman of Ahmadiya Muslim Association said: "Flying the flag is a wonderful thing and can create unity, but mosques are a place of worship and house of God and does not belong to one nation, but every nation.
and off course the muslims hate the idea........but love this one.
Veil row assistant loses appeal
A Muslim classroom assistant sacked for refusing to remove her veil in lessons has lost an appeal against a ruling that she was not discriminated against.Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to remove the veil after Headfield Church of England School in Dewsbury, West Yorks, said pupils could not understand her.
Mrs Azmi refused and was sacked after an employment tribunal ruled she was not the victim of discrimination.
She had not contested the sacking, but claimed religious discrimination.
Her case against Kirklees Council was considered by the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in London.
Awarded damages
In October last year, an employment tribunal dismissed Mrs Azmi's three claims for discrimination and harassment, although it did agree she had been victimised by Kirklees Council, the local education authority.
She was awarded £1,100 in damages.
Mrs Azmi, from Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury, had said she was willing to remove her veil in front of children, but not if male colleagues were present.
The school and authority argued that pupils needed to see her face to understand what she was saying in lessons.
Mrs Azmi's lawyer Nick Whittingham said she was not available for comment but he said the EAT accepted it was possible for direct discrimination to occur in respect of a manifestation of a religious belief such as the wearing of the veil.
'Important case'
"This will apply to manifestations of religion such as wearing the veil, a cross, the wearing the hijab or other religious symbols or clothing," he said.
"The EAT rejected the employer's argument that all discrimination on the basis of such manifestations can potentially be justified as indirect discrimination."
He said: "However, the EAT found that in this particular case there had not been direct discrimination against Ms Azmi.
"The EAT found that there had been indirect discrimination but that [on the facts of this case] the school had justified their actions.
"Outside the direct teaching environment, employers will not be able to rely on the decision of the EAT as a precedent permitting them to discriminate against those wearing the veil.
"They may have to defend discrimination claims."
He added that no legal aid money was spent in bringing the appeal "in this important test case".
He said Mrs Azmi's barrister, Declan O'Dempsey, carried out the work for her tribunal case and the appeal free of charge.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Iranian Mob Calls for Execution of Brits
And Iran now says they won’t release female sailor Faye Turney, despite her admission of guilt.
In an interview broadcast on Iranian TV, Leading Seaman Turney said the group had been seized in the Gulf because they had “obviously trespassed” in Iranian waters. She said her captors had been friendly and that everyone was unharmed.
“Obviously we trespassed into their waters,” she said at one point, her voice audible under a simultaneous-Arabic translation. “They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, nice people.” The broadcast included footage of other marines and sailors sitting in the same room eating a meal.
It also showed a letter from Leading Seaman Turney to her parents in which she said the Navy personnel had “apparently” crossed into Iranian waters, and asked the couple to look after her three-year-old daughter Molly and her husband Adam. The Foreign Office reacted furiously to the broadcast, calling the screening “completely unacceptable”.
In an interview broadcast on Iranian TV, Leading Seaman Turney said the group had been seized in the Gulf because they had “obviously trespassed” in Iranian waters. She said her captors had been friendly and that everyone was unharmed.
“Obviously we trespassed into their waters,” she said at one point, her voice audible under a simultaneous-Arabic translation. “They were very friendly and very hospitable, very thoughtful, nice people.” The broadcast included footage of other marines and sailors sitting in the same room eating a meal.
It also showed a letter from Leading Seaman Turney to her parents in which she said the Navy personnel had “apparently” crossed into Iranian waters, and asked the couple to look after her three-year-old daughter Molly and her husband Adam. The Foreign Office reacted furiously to the broadcast, calling the screening “completely unacceptable”.
Vicar's warning on the rise of Islam
A WOLDS vicar has penned a controversial column warning local Christians about the rise of Islam.
The Rev Tony Kidd, vicar of the Beacon Benefice which includes Burton Agnes with Harpham, Lowthorpe and Ruston Parva, has spoken out in the latest issue of The Parish Magazine which is circulated throughout the Driffield area.Vicars from all the area’s churches contribute to the magazine and tend to use it as a way of keeping parishioners up-to-date with church news and upcoming events.However, Mr Kidd has used his column to record his feelings on Islam and to try and rally local Christians.Mr Kidd said he is concerned that the UK has abandoned Christianity and the gap that has been left is being filled by Islam. He writes: “We are sleep-walking into problems through our own carelessness.“There can be no justification for blind tolerance of a faith which sees itself as divinely inspired, righteous and true, namely Islam, when too often its expression of that belief conflicts directly with the hopes and aspirations of the majority of the population.“But equally we can not be surprised by the progress that Islam is making.“Our lack of national standards, beliefs and convictions give rise to a host of social problems, unsafe streets and increasing inequality.“As a result the clear-sighted objectives of militant Islam are thriving and no appeal to moderation is likely to succeed while our own decadence is so obvious.” He adds: “Is it not time for us, as Christians, to put our own house in order by making clear what we believe and why?”Mr Kidd says the UK is vulnerable because its people devoted to materialism, entertainment and celebrity and lack any clear moral code.He argues that the liberal approach has led to UK becoming the ‘abortion, drug and promiscuity capital of Europe’ and adds that an ASBO is seen as a greater achievement among young people than an A level.“Meanwhile in the vacuum of clear moral leadership from which we suffer and faced with a pro-Arab BBC and foreign office, Islam fills the gap left by Christianity and often features in the news for a variety of reasons,” he said.“Yet the majority of adults in this country have little idea about the force of the Islamic ideal and even less understanding of its potency.“We may be able to talk about Big Brother, foreign holidays and football but few will understand why Islam and its beliefs are of real significance to that substantial part of our population which follows its teaching and why it therefore ought to matter to us.”Mr Kidd explains how land once possessed by Islam remains holy to Islam for all time. He said this explains the problems in Israel and adds: “It also explains what those who want Sharia law to apply to parts of England occupied predominantly by followers of Islam may have in mind especially when we remember that Islam believes itself commissioned by its God to bring its own value system to the world through jihad (holy war or holy struggle).”
The Rev Tony Kidd, vicar of the Beacon Benefice which includes Burton Agnes with Harpham, Lowthorpe and Ruston Parva, has spoken out in the latest issue of The Parish Magazine which is circulated throughout the Driffield area.Vicars from all the area’s churches contribute to the magazine and tend to use it as a way of keeping parishioners up-to-date with church news and upcoming events.However, Mr Kidd has used his column to record his feelings on Islam and to try and rally local Christians.Mr Kidd said he is concerned that the UK has abandoned Christianity and the gap that has been left is being filled by Islam. He writes: “We are sleep-walking into problems through our own carelessness.“There can be no justification for blind tolerance of a faith which sees itself as divinely inspired, righteous and true, namely Islam, when too often its expression of that belief conflicts directly with the hopes and aspirations of the majority of the population.“But equally we can not be surprised by the progress that Islam is making.“Our lack of national standards, beliefs and convictions give rise to a host of social problems, unsafe streets and increasing inequality.“As a result the clear-sighted objectives of militant Islam are thriving and no appeal to moderation is likely to succeed while our own decadence is so obvious.” He adds: “Is it not time for us, as Christians, to put our own house in order by making clear what we believe and why?”Mr Kidd says the UK is vulnerable because its people devoted to materialism, entertainment and celebrity and lack any clear moral code.He argues that the liberal approach has led to UK becoming the ‘abortion, drug and promiscuity capital of Europe’ and adds that an ASBO is seen as a greater achievement among young people than an A level.“Meanwhile in the vacuum of clear moral leadership from which we suffer and faced with a pro-Arab BBC and foreign office, Islam fills the gap left by Christianity and often features in the news for a variety of reasons,” he said.“Yet the majority of adults in this country have little idea about the force of the Islamic ideal and even less understanding of its potency.“We may be able to talk about Big Brother, foreign holidays and football but few will understand why Islam and its beliefs are of real significance to that substantial part of our population which follows its teaching and why it therefore ought to matter to us.”Mr Kidd explains how land once possessed by Islam remains holy to Islam for all time. He said this explains the problems in Israel and adds: “It also explains what those who want Sharia law to apply to parts of England occupied predominantly by followers of Islam may have in mind especially when we remember that Islam believes itself commissioned by its God to bring its own value system to the world through jihad (holy war or holy struggle).”
Health secretary in Muslim GP row
Two medical magazines reported that Ms Hewitt said some Muslim women feared raising sensitive issues with their GP in case it got back to their families. She told Pulse magazine: "I have had Muslim women give me chapter and verse on very distressing breaches of confidentiality by Muslim GPs. "Some women patients feel they cannot trust their own GP, who knows the patient's extended families. If they go and talk to him about a very difficult situation concerning domestic violence or sexual health problems they fear that he will share that with other members of the community. They are very close-knit communities."One woman who took part in the survey of more than 200 Muslim women said: "When I was younger - I grew up in Essex, a mixed community - there were only a few GPs the young women would go to - because GPs in the community felt able to pass information about your sexuality to your parents."
Dr Reesat Drabu, a GP in Eastleigh, Hampshire and chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's social and family affairs committee said there were no figures to back up Ms Hewitt's comments. "As a Muslim doctor I find it very offensive that she raises the issue that we are any less capable of adhering to good practice."
Dr Reesat Drabu, a GP in Eastleigh, Hampshire and chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's social and family affairs committee said there were no figures to back up Ms Hewitt's comments. "As a Muslim doctor I find it very offensive that she raises the issue that we are any less capable of adhering to good practice."
Monday, March 26, 2007
Jilted husband admits wife murder
A jilted husband has admitted stabbing his wife to death after she rejected his hopes of a reunion.
Zameer Ahmed, 27, pleaded guilty to murdering 23-year-old Nazia at their home in Blackburn, Lancashire.
A charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, relating to an attack on his estranged wife's sister, Shazia, will remain on file.
The hearing at Manchester Crown Court was adjourned and Ahmed may be sentenced later on Monday.
Shazia Ahmed, 20, had tried to protect Nazia before running for help after the attack in June 2006.
Judge Michael Henshell accepted the prosecution's view that only Ahmed could have been responsible for the attack on Shazia, which he had denied.
Zameer Ahmed, 27, pleaded guilty to murdering 23-year-old Nazia at their home in Blackburn, Lancashire.
A charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, relating to an attack on his estranged wife's sister, Shazia, will remain on file.
The hearing at Manchester Crown Court was adjourned and Ahmed may be sentenced later on Monday.
Shazia Ahmed, 20, had tried to protect Nazia before running for help after the attack in June 2006.
Judge Michael Henshell accepted the prosecution's view that only Ahmed could have been responsible for the attack on Shazia, which he had denied.
Nazia and Ahmed had an arranged marriage in Pakistan but separated 18 months after he arrived in the UK because of their different aspirations.
"Ahmed was ill-educated and not considered to be too intelligent," prosecutor Anthony Cross told the court.
"In contrast Nazia was brought up in Lancashire, went to university to study accountancy and passed her exams with flying colours."
Ahmed remained close to Nazia's extended family, many of whom had houses on Shear Bank Road where the sisters lived.
Despite their civil relationship Ahmed grew angry at her rejection of his hopes for a reconciliation, detectives said.
He snapped on Saturday 17 June about an hour after attending a family party at the sisters' house for their brother Waseem, 24.
"No cross words were exchanged, according to the family - it was all very normal and pleasant and Nazia and Ahmed were not seen talking alone at any point," Det Ch Insp Neil Hunter, of Lancashire Constabulary, said.
"There's nothing we can put our fingers on at all really about why he suddenly did this."
Ahmed stole two 20cm kitchen knives from the restaurant where he worked, went to the house and shoved past Shazia to confront Nazia about why she would not see him.
After fighting off her sister, he stabbed Nazia, inflicting wounds up to 15cm deep, in an attack which lasted less than three minutes, the court heard.
He then fled before the family arrived and police launched a nationwide manhunt, culminating in his arrest in Blackburn nine days later.
Images from CCTV show Ahmed fled first to Clitheroe, then down to London, before heading up to Glasgow and then back to Blackburn.
He confessed to the murder while working in Glasgow, telling his manager that Nazia had been having an affair.
Lancashire Constabulary have uncovered no evidence of this.
"Ahmed was ill-educated and not considered to be too intelligent," prosecutor Anthony Cross told the court.
"In contrast Nazia was brought up in Lancashire, went to university to study accountancy and passed her exams with flying colours."
Ahmed remained close to Nazia's extended family, many of whom had houses on Shear Bank Road where the sisters lived.
Despite their civil relationship Ahmed grew angry at her rejection of his hopes for a reconciliation, detectives said.
He snapped on Saturday 17 June about an hour after attending a family party at the sisters' house for their brother Waseem, 24.
"No cross words were exchanged, according to the family - it was all very normal and pleasant and Nazia and Ahmed were not seen talking alone at any point," Det Ch Insp Neil Hunter, of Lancashire Constabulary, said.
"There's nothing we can put our fingers on at all really about why he suddenly did this."
Ahmed stole two 20cm kitchen knives from the restaurant where he worked, went to the house and shoved past Shazia to confront Nazia about why she would not see him.
After fighting off her sister, he stabbed Nazia, inflicting wounds up to 15cm deep, in an attack which lasted less than three minutes, the court heard.
He then fled before the family arrived and police launched a nationwide manhunt, culminating in his arrest in Blackburn nine days later.
Images from CCTV show Ahmed fled first to Clitheroe, then down to London, before heading up to Glasgow and then back to Blackburn.
He confessed to the murder while working in Glasgow, telling his manager that Nazia had been having an affair.
Lancashire Constabulary have uncovered no evidence of this.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
University of Manchester Partners with University of Death
The University of Manchester in Britain, at the demand of Islamist student groups, is partnering with one of the most debased, evil institutions in the world, Al-Najah University in Nablus—scene of an exhibit celebrating the Sbarro Pizzeria mass murder, and spawning ground for a host of suicide bombers and murderers: UK, West Bank universities twinned.
The University of Manchester in northern England has been “twinned” with al-Najah University in the West Bank following the passing of a motion filled with anti-Israel rhetoric by the student’s union last week.
Some 19 Palestinian suicide bombers have originated from al-Najah, and in 2001, the university organized a display to celebrate and recreate the suicide bomb attack on the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem, which killed 15 Israelis. The motion stated that “Palestinian education has been severely hindered since the outbreak of the second Intifada in September 2000 by blanket curfews, the presence of roadblocks and recently the erection of the wall. The cumulative effects of these measures have put the future of many Palestinian universities at grave risk.“ ... The motion was introduced by a student group called ”Palestine Action," a subsidiary of the British Respect Party, itself made up of an alliance between Islamists and far-Left activists, and supported by the university’s Islamic Society, a Jewish student representative told Ynetnews.
The University of Manchester in northern England has been “twinned” with al-Najah University in the West Bank following the passing of a motion filled with anti-Israel rhetoric by the student’s union last week.
Some 19 Palestinian suicide bombers have originated from al-Najah, and in 2001, the university organized a display to celebrate and recreate the suicide bomb attack on the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem, which killed 15 Israelis. The motion stated that “Palestinian education has been severely hindered since the outbreak of the second Intifada in September 2000 by blanket curfews, the presence of roadblocks and recently the erection of the wall. The cumulative effects of these measures have put the future of many Palestinian universities at grave risk.“ ... The motion was introduced by a student group called ”Palestine Action," a subsidiary of the British Respect Party, itself made up of an alliance between Islamists and far-Left activists, and supported by the university’s Islamic Society, a Jewish student representative told Ynetnews.
Three held over 7 July bombings
Three men have been arrested in connection with the suicide bombings in London on 7 July 2005.
Two men, aged 23 and 30, were arrested shortly before 1300 GMT at Manchester Airport when they were due to catch a flight to Pakistan.
A third man, aged 26, was arrested at a house in Leeds shortly after 1600 GMT.
The men were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Fifty-two people were killed by four bombers on 7 July.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, and Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated bombs on three Tube trains and Hasib Hussain, 18, attacked a bus.
Searches
Thursday's arrests are the first major ones since the attacks.
Two of the arrested men are at Paddington Green police station, central London, and the third is believed to be on his way there.
They will be interviewed by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.
Searches are being carried out at five houses in the Beeston area of Leeds, West Yorkshire Police said.
The addresses are in Cardinal Road, Colwyn Road, Firth Mount, Tempest Road, and Rowland Place.
Tanweer and Hussain had both been living in Beeston when the attacks were carried out and Khan grew up in Beeston.
Tanweer lived in Colwyn Road with his parents.
A flat and a separate business premises are also being searched in east London.
Scotland Yard said the arrests were part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation and also involved the West Yorkshire Police Counter Terrorism Unit.
Ch Supt Mark Milsom, of West Yorkshire Police, said it had not been a high profile operation and unarmed officers were carrying out the searches.
'No danger to public'
He said the searches may take "some time" but they were not expecting to find firearms or bomb-making equipment.
"There's no danger, as we know it, to the public at this time," he said.
Lord Carlile QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said: "Anybody who imagined that this had simply been treated as four lone wolves, or a pack of wolves on 7 July 2005 was very wrong."
He said a "rigorous hunt" was going on for everyone connected with the attacks and nobody involved could "lie easy in their beds".
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Detectives have continued to pursue many lines of inquiry both here in the UK and overseas.
"This remains a painstaking investigation with a substantial amount of information being analysed and investigated.
"As we have said previously, we are determined to follow the evidence wherever it takes us to identify any other person who may have been involved, in any way, in the terrorist attacks.
"We need to know who else, apart from the bombers, knew what they were planning. Did anyone encourage them? Did anyone help them with money, or accommodation?"
Two men, aged 23 and 30, were arrested shortly before 1300 GMT at Manchester Airport when they were due to catch a flight to Pakistan.
A third man, aged 26, was arrested at a house in Leeds shortly after 1600 GMT.
The men were held on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Fifty-two people were killed by four bombers on 7 July.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, and Germaine Lindsay, 19, detonated bombs on three Tube trains and Hasib Hussain, 18, attacked a bus.
Searches
Thursday's arrests are the first major ones since the attacks.
Two of the arrested men are at Paddington Green police station, central London, and the third is believed to be on his way there.
They will be interviewed by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command.
Searches are being carried out at five houses in the Beeston area of Leeds, West Yorkshire Police said.
The addresses are in Cardinal Road, Colwyn Road, Firth Mount, Tempest Road, and Rowland Place.
Tanweer and Hussain had both been living in Beeston when the attacks were carried out and Khan grew up in Beeston.
Tanweer lived in Colwyn Road with his parents.
A flat and a separate business premises are also being searched in east London.
Scotland Yard said the arrests were part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation and also involved the West Yorkshire Police Counter Terrorism Unit.
Ch Supt Mark Milsom, of West Yorkshire Police, said it had not been a high profile operation and unarmed officers were carrying out the searches.
'No danger to public'
He said the searches may take "some time" but they were not expecting to find firearms or bomb-making equipment.
"There's no danger, as we know it, to the public at this time," he said.
Lord Carlile QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said: "Anybody who imagined that this had simply been treated as four lone wolves, or a pack of wolves on 7 July 2005 was very wrong."
He said a "rigorous hunt" was going on for everyone connected with the attacks and nobody involved could "lie easy in their beds".
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Detectives have continued to pursue many lines of inquiry both here in the UK and overseas.
"This remains a painstaking investigation with a substantial amount of information being analysed and investigated.
"As we have said previously, we are determined to follow the evidence wherever it takes us to identify any other person who may have been involved, in any way, in the terrorist attacks.
"We need to know who else, apart from the bombers, knew what they were planning. Did anyone encourage them? Did anyone help them with money, or accommodation?"
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
10,000 passports go to fraudsters
Thousands of people, including two men convicted over terror attacks, obtained passports under false pretences, the Home Office has admitted. It admitted 10,000 passports were wrongly given in the past year, but said plans to interview applicants would combat such fraud.
One of the men was convicted of a bombing in Morocco, and the other of planning a major attack in the UK.
The Conservatives called the admission "shocking".
The figures were revealed as the Identity and Passport Service gave details of plans for interviews for passports at a network of new offices.
Face-to-face interviews for adults applying for a passport for the first time would be gradually introduced from May, it said.
The two men who obtained false passports were Dhiren Barot and Salaheddine Benyaich.
Barot, from London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder at Woolwich Crown Court in December and was sentenced to life with a recommendation that he serve 40 years.
He had seven passports in his true identity and two further passports in fraudulent identities.
The IPS said he would not have been able to obtain the latter two passports in fraudulent identities if he had been interviewed.
Moroccan national Benyaich had two British passports in the name of a British citizen born in Brighton. He is currently serving 18 years in Morocco for terrorist offences.
The IPS said a face-to-face interview would have stopped his application.
Home Office minister Joan Ryan said the IPS had 16,500 fraudulent applications during the 12 month period to September 2006 - 10,000 of which went undetected.
She said that represented a level of undetected fraud of about 0.15% of the planned 6.6 million passports issued per year.
One of the men was convicted of a bombing in Morocco, and the other of planning a major attack in the UK.
The Conservatives called the admission "shocking".
The figures were revealed as the Identity and Passport Service gave details of plans for interviews for passports at a network of new offices.
Face-to-face interviews for adults applying for a passport for the first time would be gradually introduced from May, it said.
The two men who obtained false passports were Dhiren Barot and Salaheddine Benyaich.
Barot, from London, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder at Woolwich Crown Court in December and was sentenced to life with a recommendation that he serve 40 years.He had seven passports in his true identity and two further passports in fraudulent identities.
The IPS said he would not have been able to obtain the latter two passports in fraudulent identities if he had been interviewed.
Moroccan national Benyaich had two British passports in the name of a British citizen born in Brighton. He is currently serving 18 years in Morocco for terrorist offences.
The IPS said a face-to-face interview would have stopped his application.
Home Office minister Joan Ryan said the IPS had 16,500 fraudulent applications during the 12 month period to September 2006 - 10,000 of which went undetected.
She said that represented a level of undetected fraud of about 0.15% of the planned 6.6 million passports issued per year.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "This is a shocking admission which betrays chaos at the heart of the passport system."
Downing Street said the multi-billion-pound plans for biometric ID cards would help in the fight against fraudulent applications.
But Mr Davis said it undermined the government's case for its "expensive" ID card system because false passport holders could use the document to get a genuine ID card.
The Liberal Democrats accused the government of using the "bad news" about false passports to back its case for ID cards.
Nick Clegg, the party's home affairs spokesman, said more security features on passports and targeted interviews were a better way of tackling passport fraud.
Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, and the campaign group NO2ID both said that the interviews would inconvenience millions of law-abiding people, while criminal gangs would find it easy to get round the new safeguards.
'More sophisticated'
The prime minister's official spokesman said each fraud case was being followed up and the problem was being addressed by the interviews.
Ms Ryan said the main threats of fraud came from first-time adult applicants, followed by first-time child applications.
"It appears that the level of attempted fraud is increasing and getting more sophisticated," she said.
IPS executive director Bernard Herdan said applicants would be expected to know answers from a pool of around 200 questions about their personal and financial history, such as previous addresses and when their parents were born.
"We will not ask questions to which we don't know the answers," he said.
"Before the interview takes place, we will have cross-checked that individual against various databases in order to uncover information about them."
Downing Street said the multi-billion-pound plans for biometric ID cards would help in the fight against fraudulent applications.
But Mr Davis said it undermined the government's case for its "expensive" ID card system because false passport holders could use the document to get a genuine ID card.
The Liberal Democrats accused the government of using the "bad news" about false passports to back its case for ID cards.
Nick Clegg, the party's home affairs spokesman, said more security features on passports and targeted interviews were a better way of tackling passport fraud.
Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, and the campaign group NO2ID both said that the interviews would inconvenience millions of law-abiding people, while criminal gangs would find it easy to get round the new safeguards.
'More sophisticated'
The prime minister's official spokesman said each fraud case was being followed up and the problem was being addressed by the interviews.
Ms Ryan said the main threats of fraud came from first-time adult applicants, followed by first-time child applications.
"It appears that the level of attempted fraud is increasing and getting more sophisticated," she said.
IPS executive director Bernard Herdan said applicants would be expected to know answers from a pool of around 200 questions about their personal and financial history, such as previous addresses and when their parents were born.
"We will not ask questions to which we don't know the answers," he said.
"Before the interview takes place, we will have cross-checked that individual against various databases in order to uncover information about them."
Terror suspect to be extradited
A man wanted in the US over terrorism charges has lost his High Court battle against extradition.
Syed Hashmi, 27, of no fixed address, is accused of supplying military equipment, while in London, to al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mr Hashmi, a US citizen born in Pakistan, came to the UK on a student visa in 2003 and joined radical Islamic group al-Muhajiroun.
Mr Hashmi was arrested in June 2006 at Heathrow Airport.
'Military gear'
At the High Court, in London, he challenged a decision by district judge Timothy Workman to send his case to the home secretary for a final decision on whether he should be extradited to the US.
Mr Hashmi was indicted by the United States District Court for the southern district of New York in early 2004.
His extradition warrant alleged he received "military gear" in London intended for use in committing terrorist offences between January and March 2004.
In court on Tuesday, Lord Justice Baker said Mr Hashmi had been accused of allowing his flat in London "to be used by someone to store various items of clothing... pending their despatch by that person to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan".
'Al-Qaeda quartermaster'
Mr Hashmi's lawyers argued that any trial should take place in the UK.
Dismissing Mr Hashmi's his High Court challenge, Lord Justice Baker, sitting with Mr Justice Clarke, rejected Mr Hashmi's accusations that the arrest warrants were flawed.
The judges agreed the complaint was "wholly technical and without substance".
Lord Justice Baker said Mr Hashmi was alleged to be "a quartermaster who has assisted in the supply of military equipment" in the fight against US forces.
In those circumstances, the jurisdiction claimed over Mr Hashmi as a US citizen by the US authorities was "not exorbitant", he added.
The judges also ruled his extradition was "lawful and proportionate" under European human rights law.
Syed Hashmi, 27, of no fixed address, is accused of supplying military equipment, while in London, to al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Mr Hashmi, a US citizen born in Pakistan, came to the UK on a student visa in 2003 and joined radical Islamic group al-Muhajiroun.
Mr Hashmi was arrested in June 2006 at Heathrow Airport.
'Military gear'
At the High Court, in London, he challenged a decision by district judge Timothy Workman to send his case to the home secretary for a final decision on whether he should be extradited to the US.
Mr Hashmi was indicted by the United States District Court for the southern district of New York in early 2004.
His extradition warrant alleged he received "military gear" in London intended for use in committing terrorist offences between January and March 2004.
In court on Tuesday, Lord Justice Baker said Mr Hashmi had been accused of allowing his flat in London "to be used by someone to store various items of clothing... pending their despatch by that person to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan".
'Al-Qaeda quartermaster'
Mr Hashmi's lawyers argued that any trial should take place in the UK.
Dismissing Mr Hashmi's his High Court challenge, Lord Justice Baker, sitting with Mr Justice Clarke, rejected Mr Hashmi's accusations that the arrest warrants were flawed.
The judges agreed the complaint was "wholly technical and without substance".
Lord Justice Baker said Mr Hashmi was alleged to be "a quartermaster who has assisted in the supply of military equipment" in the fight against US forces.
In those circumstances, the jurisdiction claimed over Mr Hashmi as a US citizen by the US authorities was "not exorbitant", he added.
The judges also ruled his extradition was "lawful and proportionate" under European human rights law.
Schools allowed to ban face veils
Schools will be able to ban pupils from wearing full-face veils on security, safety or learning grounds under new uniforms guidance set to be issued.
In February, a 12-year-old girl failed in her High Court attempt to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban.
Ministers promised revised guidance for England taking that into consideration.
It says efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact.
In February, a 12-year-old girl failed in her High Court attempt to overturn her Buckinghamshire school's niqab ban.
Ministers promised revised guidance for England taking that into consideration.
It says efforts should be made to accommodate religious clothing but stresses the importance of teachers and pupils being able to make eye contact.
The issue of religious dress has become an increasingly complicated one for schools in recent years, with a handful of high profile cases going to court.
But it is the victory by the Buckinghamshire school, which cannot be named for legal reasons, that has prompted the updated guidance.
The school argued the veil made communication between teachers and pupils difficult and thus hampered learning.
Teachers needed to be able to tell if a pupil was enthusiastic, paying attention or even distressed but full-face veils prevented this, it said.
This position was upheld by the High Court - which refused to grant a judicial review - and is expected to form a key part of the guidance.
Guidance welcomed
Schools need to be able to identify individual pupils in order to maintain good order and to identify intruders, it is expected to say.
"If a pupil's face is obscured for any reason the teacher may not be able to judge their engagement with learning or secure their participation in discussions and practical activities," it adds.
The head teacher of the Buckinghamshire school, who also cannot be named, said it would be very useful to have some clear guidance from the DfES.
"It's not right that schools should have to be arguing this out case by case," she told the BBC News website.
"Obviously there's a trade-off between schools retaining autonomy over school uniform decisions, on the other hand we will have some very clear guidance from the DfES within which to work."
'Equality'
She said she did not regret the school's decision to fight the case.
"We feel very strongly that this was a matter of principle, that there shouldn't be barriers to communication between students and teachers.
"We also feel the young people in our school should be educated on an equal basis and be prepared for their role as adults in a modern society in which we expect there to be equality between men and women."
The Muslim Council of Britain has not yet responded to the guidance, but in a 72-page document released in February the organisation stopped short of endorsing niqabs for girls.
It did, however, urge schools to take into account Muslim pupils' needs to dress modestly and avoid tight-fitting or transparent garments.
Financial hardship
The DfES guidance also instructs schools to be sensitive to the cost implications of their choice of uniform which should be available at high street shops.
A recent letter to all schools from the Office of Fair Trading says they can be prosecuted for engaging in exclusive agreements with specific retailers.
The guidance also reiterates schools' right to discipline pupils for not wearing the proper uniform.
But they should carefully investigate the reasons behind this and be sensitive in cases of financial hardship.
School head explains niqab ban
THE decision to give headteachers the power to ban the Islamic veil from the classroom is common sense.
Children go to school to learn, not to be dragged into a debate that has become a political hot potato. The simplest way of dealing with the issue is to leave it to staff within the school to determine the best course of action. If they feel the veil is getting in the way of kids learning then there should be no alternative - it must be removed. Some Muslim groups have branded the move 'shocking'. One of the most vocal - Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission - says it infringes Muslims' human rights. But what about the children's right to learn? Surely that must be the first priority? And if wearing a veil is likely to hamper their education then there should be no question as to what is the right thing to do. In another welcome display of common sense, the Government has warned headteachers they face action from the Office of Fair Trading if they impose unfair uniform policies. It comes after an inquiry found compulsory clothing which was only available through one shop was far more expensive than supermarket uniforms. Parents should be encouraged to send their children
to school, not penalised for doing so. An affordable uniform should be the norm at every school.
Monday, March 19, 2007
UK Asians 'silent' on child abuse
Many Asians in the UK are hiding behind a "wall of silence" when it comes to reporting child abuse, according to child protection charity the NSPCC.
A survey carried out for the charity found only 48% of British Asians polled would tell the authorities if they suspected a child was being abused.
Many said informing the authorities would "dishonour" the child's family.
It compares with a similar survey in 2005 which found 92% of the general UK population would inform authorities.
The survey for the NSPCC involved face-to-face interviews with 500 first, second and third-generation British Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in the UK.
Most said they would prefer to deal with suspected child abuse themselves rather than involve the police or social services.
And their reluctance to speak out is fuelled by fears that the child would be removed from their family, and because the authorities do not understand their religion and culture.
More than two-thirds of those questioned said they also feared that reporting child abuse would have a negative effect on the "honour" - known as "izzat" - of a child's family.
NSPCC Asian Helpline Manager, Saleha Islam said: "Child abuse happens in all communities and there is no evidence that it is greater amongst British Asians.
"However, cultural issues and the importance placed on family reputation could mean that it is being hidden away.
"Izzat means that family comes before the individual, but to keep children safe from abuse their interests must come first.
"We want to send out a message to the British Asian community that putting up a wall of silence will not protect children. It will only protect the abuser who will be free to abuse again."
Responsibility
Of those questioned for the survey, 37% said they have suspected a child was being abused, yet 42% of them did nothing about their concerns.
A quarter confronted the alleged abuser themselves, 24% telling a member of the child's family and 17% speaking to the child concerned directly.
About 4% did report their suspicions to the police, and 3% to social services.
Two-thirds of respondents also said they felt their community was not open to talking about child abuse.
Ms Islam said: "We need to tackle the stigma and fear attached to seeking professional help for family problems otherwise British Asian children will be denied the protection on offer to other children in our society.
"The community must take responsibility for changing any attitudes and beliefs that could be making their children vulnerable to abuse."
She added: "We would like to see the Government lead a public education campaign that will give the British Asian community the knowledge and confidence to overcome any barriers to reporting child abuse."
In 2001, the NSPCC set up a telephone helpline to encourage information from Asian people who suspect child abuse but may feel excluded by existing English-speaking advice sources.
Aisha the Child Wife of Muhammad
A survey carried out for the charity found only 48% of British Asians polled would tell the authorities if they suspected a child was being abused.
Many said informing the authorities would "dishonour" the child's family.
It compares with a similar survey in 2005 which found 92% of the general UK population would inform authorities.
The survey for the NSPCC involved face-to-face interviews with 500 first, second and third-generation British Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in the UK.
Most said they would prefer to deal with suspected child abuse themselves rather than involve the police or social services.
And their reluctance to speak out is fuelled by fears that the child would be removed from their family, and because the authorities do not understand their religion and culture.
More than two-thirds of those questioned said they also feared that reporting child abuse would have a negative effect on the "honour" - known as "izzat" - of a child's family.
NSPCC Asian Helpline Manager, Saleha Islam said: "Child abuse happens in all communities and there is no evidence that it is greater amongst British Asians.
"However, cultural issues and the importance placed on family reputation could mean that it is being hidden away.
"Izzat means that family comes before the individual, but to keep children safe from abuse their interests must come first.
"We want to send out a message to the British Asian community that putting up a wall of silence will not protect children. It will only protect the abuser who will be free to abuse again."
Responsibility
Of those questioned for the survey, 37% said they have suspected a child was being abused, yet 42% of them did nothing about their concerns.
A quarter confronted the alleged abuser themselves, 24% telling a member of the child's family and 17% speaking to the child concerned directly.
About 4% did report their suspicions to the police, and 3% to social services.
Two-thirds of respondents also said they felt their community was not open to talking about child abuse.
Ms Islam said: "We need to tackle the stigma and fear attached to seeking professional help for family problems otherwise British Asian children will be denied the protection on offer to other children in our society.
"The community must take responsibility for changing any attitudes and beliefs that could be making their children vulnerable to abuse."
She added: "We would like to see the Government lead a public education campaign that will give the British Asian community the knowledge and confidence to overcome any barriers to reporting child abuse."
In 2001, the NSPCC set up a telephone helpline to encourage information from Asian people who suspect child abuse but may feel excluded by existing English-speaking advice sources.
Aisha the Child Wife of Muhammad
Saturday, March 17, 2007
How many times following an attack on infidels do we see the following words?
"...whosoever killeth a human being... it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind..."
This comes from a verse in the Koran 5:32 to be exact,
it is only part of the verse and the full verse is as follows:5:32:
"For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), but afterwards lo! Many of them become prodigals of the earth."
Archi did a full analysis of the verse which is linked to the Cain and Abel story and he also found a passage from the Mishnah which is a Jewish commentary on the Torah from which Mohammad plagiarised this verse from.
I do not want to go into the detail of this but I want to focus on the words "or corruption in the earth.
"The Koran says that the presence of disbelievers causes confusion and corruption in the land and therefore Muslims must join together to oppose them (8:73).Islamic jurisprudence deems that mixing with non-believers will cause mischief and corruption, disbelief, while oppression refers to any words, actions or institutions that go against or impede the full unrestricted practice of Islam.
Non-Muslims, according to the Koran, are not considered innocent civilians. They are "guilty" of disbelief (45:31, 83:29) - the worst crime. The Koran says that non-Muslims are against Allah (25:55); on the side of the Satan and are fighting for him (4:76-77); "evil" (16:27, 2:91, 2:99); the "wrong-doers" (2:254, 5:45); the "enemy" and "perverted" (63:4); "wicked" (80:42, 9:125); hypocrites (4:61); "unclean" (9:28). As for whether non-Muslims are civilians, the Koran is not even clear that non-Muslims are fully human. Instead, the disbelievers are the "worst of created beings" (98:6); "miscreants" (2:99, 24:55); "the worst beasts in Allah's sight" (8:55), "apes" and/or "pigs" (2:65-66, 5:58-60, 7:166), and so on. Verse 60:4 says followers of Allah will hate the disbelievers forever, unless the disbelievers come to believe in Allah only.
Think about this thorough demonization of disbelievers, together with the conception of disbelief as the worst possible crime. Now think about how easy it would be for a Koran-believing Muslim to find a non-Muslim guilty of corruption on earth or war against God. Keep in mind that much of the words, deeds, and customs of the non-Muslims happen to go against Islam. So in a nutshell you as an Unbeliever are guilty of the greatest crime which is unbelief, your very presence causes corruption so therefore that verse that they preach is actually justifying the act of violence that was carried out by Muslims. The only innocent as far as Islam is concerned is a devout Muslim.
So the next time you hear that verse in that context, realize that the Imam stating it is actually siding with the Terrorists.
This comes from a verse in the Koran 5:32 to be exact,
it is only part of the verse and the full verse is as follows:5:32:
"For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), but afterwards lo! Many of them become prodigals of the earth."
Archi did a full analysis of the verse which is linked to the Cain and Abel story and he also found a passage from the Mishnah which is a Jewish commentary on the Torah from which Mohammad plagiarised this verse from.
I do not want to go into the detail of this but I want to focus on the words "or corruption in the earth.
"The Koran says that the presence of disbelievers causes confusion and corruption in the land and therefore Muslims must join together to oppose them (8:73).Islamic jurisprudence deems that mixing with non-believers will cause mischief and corruption, disbelief, while oppression refers to any words, actions or institutions that go against or impede the full unrestricted practice of Islam.
Non-Muslims, according to the Koran, are not considered innocent civilians. They are "guilty" of disbelief (45:31, 83:29) - the worst crime. The Koran says that non-Muslims are against Allah (25:55); on the side of the Satan and are fighting for him (4:76-77); "evil" (16:27, 2:91, 2:99); the "wrong-doers" (2:254, 5:45); the "enemy" and "perverted" (63:4); "wicked" (80:42, 9:125); hypocrites (4:61); "unclean" (9:28). As for whether non-Muslims are civilians, the Koran is not even clear that non-Muslims are fully human. Instead, the disbelievers are the "worst of created beings" (98:6); "miscreants" (2:99, 24:55); "the worst beasts in Allah's sight" (8:55), "apes" and/or "pigs" (2:65-66, 5:58-60, 7:166), and so on. Verse 60:4 says followers of Allah will hate the disbelievers forever, unless the disbelievers come to believe in Allah only.
Think about this thorough demonization of disbelievers, together with the conception of disbelief as the worst possible crime. Now think about how easy it would be for a Koran-believing Muslim to find a non-Muslim guilty of corruption on earth or war against God. Keep in mind that much of the words, deeds, and customs of the non-Muslims happen to go against Islam. So in a nutshell you as an Unbeliever are guilty of the greatest crime which is unbelief, your very presence causes corruption so therefore that verse that they preach is actually justifying the act of violence that was carried out by Muslims. The only innocent as far as Islam is concerned is a devout Muslim.
So the next time you hear that verse in that context, realize that the Imam stating it is actually siding with the Terrorists.
Scotland`s Muslim cricketer covers up beer logo
SCOTTISH Muslim cricketer Majid Haq made his World Cup debut yesterday with a beer manufacturer`s logo blacked out on his strip because of his strong anti-alcohol views.
The Scottish team, who were playing world champions Australia in St Kitts, are sponsored by a brewery and the logo, Deuchars IPA, one of the country`s most popular ales, is on the arms of the players` shirts.
"It`s for religious reasons," said Haq when he explained why the brewer`s name is missing from his strip.
"We were on tour in Kenya in January when I first heard that Deuchars was going to be our shirt sponsor, and I just told Cricket Scotland straight away that I wouldn`t be able to wear their logos because of my religion. They respected my beliefs."
Euan McIntyre, Scotland`s tour manager, said: "Majid felt that because of his religion it would not be appropriate to wear any branding promoting alcohol.
"As far as I understand he wasn`t unhappy about the situation, but just asked politely if there was any way he could avoid wearing the logos.
"Unfortunately, it came to our attention too late for the company that makes our merchandise to reprint the shirts especially for Majid."
Haq is not the first Muslim cricketer to take this form of action against alcohol sponsorship.
Hashim Amla, the South Africa batsman, refused to wear shirts emblazoned with Castle Lager logos on his Test debut in 2004.
The Scottish team, who were playing world champions Australia in St Kitts, are sponsored by a brewery and the logo, Deuchars IPA, one of the country`s most popular ales, is on the arms of the players` shirts.
"It`s for religious reasons," said Haq when he explained why the brewer`s name is missing from his strip.
"We were on tour in Kenya in January when I first heard that Deuchars was going to be our shirt sponsor, and I just told Cricket Scotland straight away that I wouldn`t be able to wear their logos because of my religion. They respected my beliefs."
Euan McIntyre, Scotland`s tour manager, said: "Majid felt that because of his religion it would not be appropriate to wear any branding promoting alcohol.
"As far as I understand he wasn`t unhappy about the situation, but just asked politely if there was any way he could avoid wearing the logos.
"Unfortunately, it came to our attention too late for the company that makes our merchandise to reprint the shirts especially for Majid."
Haq is not the first Muslim cricketer to take this form of action against alcohol sponsorship.
Hashim Amla, the South Africa batsman, refused to wear shirts emblazoned with Castle Lager logos on his Test debut in 2004.
UK Islamists Want Muslim Schools Because Brits Are “Racists”
A quote from Iftikhar Ahmad at London School of Islamics, 1 March 2007
According to a study, majority of Muslim pupils are underachieving at schools because the curriculum is racist. [...] In state schools, Muslim pupils are placed in situation where they feel pressured into acting contrary to their beliefs and conscience and also experience Islamophobic sentiments and comments within schools.
Bristol council spent £18000.00 researching whether there was a demand for an Islamic school. [...] The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to state funded Muslim schools.
I did a survey in the London Borough of Newham in 1991 to find out the level of support for state funded Muslim schools. I visited each and every Muslim home in the Borough to find out their opinion about Muslim majority state schools to be designated as Muslim community schools. Nearly 90% of Muslim parents supported my proposal. The Guardian newspaper dated 5th of November 1991 devoted half a page on my efforts for state funded Muslim schools.
More from the same source:
Multifaith schools are not going to bring together children from different faiths. State schools are already multicultural and multiracial but relation between different communities has gone from bad to worse for the last 30 years. [...] Muslim children leave schools with Identity Crises crucial for mental, emotional and personality development. Institutional racism is rife in schools and is responsible for poorer academic of most Blacks and Muslim children. There is no sign of respect and understanding between the children of different communities. There will be hardly any difference between future Multifaith schools and present state schools because British teachers have no respect for Islamic faith and Muslim community.
The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to see their children attending Muslim schools. There are few Muslim schools with long waiting lists. There is a dire need for more Muslim schools. There are no shortages of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority, such schools may be designated as Muslim schools under the management and control of Muslim educational Trust or Charities. In Bradford, two Church schools have 90% of Muslim pupils because Muslims are in majority in the catchment areas and parents have no choice but to send their children. Lord Darring should consider to designate those two schools as Muslim community schools. Where Muslim pupils are in minority, such schools may be designated as Multifaith schools to satisfy the needs and demands of secularist. LEAs can implement such plans straight away with a stroke of a pen at local levels.
State funded Muslim schools need Muslim teachers. Highly qualified teachers can be recruited from Muslim countries for the teaching of National Curriculum, Islamic Studies, Arabic and Urdu languages so that Muslim children do not find themselves cut off from their cultural and linguistic roots. The study of Comparative religions is not required because Islam teaches respect, tolerance and understanding of those who are different from them.
hold on islams not a race
According to a study, majority of Muslim pupils are underachieving at schools because the curriculum is racist. [...] In state schools, Muslim pupils are placed in situation where they feel pressured into acting contrary to their beliefs and conscience and also experience Islamophobic sentiments and comments within schools.
Bristol council spent £18000.00 researching whether there was a demand for an Islamic school. [...] The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to send their children to state funded Muslim schools.
I did a survey in the London Borough of Newham in 1991 to find out the level of support for state funded Muslim schools. I visited each and every Muslim home in the Borough to find out their opinion about Muslim majority state schools to be designated as Muslim community schools. Nearly 90% of Muslim parents supported my proposal. The Guardian newspaper dated 5th of November 1991 devoted half a page on my efforts for state funded Muslim schools.
More from the same source:
Multifaith schools are not going to bring together children from different faiths. State schools are already multicultural and multiracial but relation between different communities has gone from bad to worse for the last 30 years. [...] Muslim children leave schools with Identity Crises crucial for mental, emotional and personality development. Institutional racism is rife in schools and is responsible for poorer academic of most Blacks and Muslim children. There is no sign of respect and understanding between the children of different communities. There will be hardly any difference between future Multifaith schools and present state schools because British teachers have no respect for Islamic faith and Muslim community.
The silent majority of Muslim parents would like to see their children attending Muslim schools. There are few Muslim schools with long waiting lists. There is a dire need for more Muslim schools. There are no shortages of state schools where Muslim pupils are in majority, such schools may be designated as Muslim schools under the management and control of Muslim educational Trust or Charities. In Bradford, two Church schools have 90% of Muslim pupils because Muslims are in majority in the catchment areas and parents have no choice but to send their children. Lord Darring should consider to designate those two schools as Muslim community schools. Where Muslim pupils are in minority, such schools may be designated as Multifaith schools to satisfy the needs and demands of secularist. LEAs can implement such plans straight away with a stroke of a pen at local levels.
State funded Muslim schools need Muslim teachers. Highly qualified teachers can be recruited from Muslim countries for the teaching of National Curriculum, Islamic Studies, Arabic and Urdu languages so that Muslim children do not find themselves cut off from their cultural and linguistic roots. The study of Comparative religions is not required because Islam teaches respect, tolerance and understanding of those who are different from them.
hold on islams not a race
Friday, March 16, 2007
Church school renames Three Little Pigs to avoid offending Muslims
The three little puppies, which will be hardly an improvement as far as some Muslims are concerned. But to their credit, some Muslim leaders think this is just as silly as it obviously is. By Chris Brooke in the Daily Mail,
The story of the Three Little Pigs' battle with the Big Bad Wolf has delighted children since it was written more than 150 years ago.
But the tale highlighting the merits of hardwork and practicality has become the latest to fall victim to political correctness.
A junior school production of the children's story has been renamed the Three Little Puppies for fear of offending Muslims.
Organisers of a children's music festival have altered the popular characters and lyrics because of the multi-cultural nature of the youngsters involved and their parents in the audience.
But yesterday Islamic leaders condemned the politically correct move as misguided and said decisions like this were turning Muslims into 'misfits' in society.
Children from Honley Church of England Junior School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were due to perform in a reworking of the popular tale which features the three little pigs.
The youngsters - aged from seven to 11 - were due to perform at Huddersfield Town Hall in June with 250 children from 63 schools singing along.
But organisers of the Kirklees Primary Music Festival decided to change the script to be 'sensitive' to Muslims at a recent committee meeting.
Committee member Gill Goodswen, head teacher of Stile Common Junior School, defending the move.
She said: "We have to be sensitive if we want to be multi-cultural. It was felt it would be more responsible not to use the three little pigs.
"We feared that some Muslim children wouldn't sing along to the words about pigs,' she said.
"We didn't want to take that risk. If changing a few words avoids offence then we will do so."
The story of the Three Little Pigs' battle with the Big Bad Wolf has delighted children since it was written more than 150 years ago.
But the tale highlighting the merits of hardwork and practicality has become the latest to fall victim to political correctness.
A junior school production of the children's story has been renamed the Three Little Puppies for fear of offending Muslims.
Organisers of a children's music festival have altered the popular characters and lyrics because of the multi-cultural nature of the youngsters involved and their parents in the audience.
But yesterday Islamic leaders condemned the politically correct move as misguided and said decisions like this were turning Muslims into 'misfits' in society.
Children from Honley Church of England Junior School in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, were due to perform in a reworking of the popular tale which features the three little pigs.
The youngsters - aged from seven to 11 - were due to perform at Huddersfield Town Hall in June with 250 children from 63 schools singing along.
But organisers of the Kirklees Primary Music Festival decided to change the script to be 'sensitive' to Muslims at a recent committee meeting.
Committee member Gill Goodswen, head teacher of Stile Common Junior School, defending the move.
She said: "We have to be sensitive if we want to be multi-cultural. It was felt it would be more responsible not to use the three little pigs.
"We feared that some Muslim children wouldn't sing along to the words about pigs,' she said.
"We didn't want to take that risk. If changing a few words avoids offence then we will do so."
UK: Three little pigs unbanned!
An update on this story. "Comeback for 'non-offensive' pigs," from the BBC, Organisers of a children's concert have given the go-ahead for the three little pigs to appear, after they were banned over fears they might offend Muslims.
Honley Junior School in West Yorkshire was to perform the Roald Dahl story of Little Red Riding Hood and the pigs - but was told to substitute puppies.
Now Kirklees Council has stepped in to allow the pigs a reprieve.
No complaints had been made about the pigs appearing in the Kirklees Primary Music Festival event.
'Something barmy'
The committee organising the concert decided Muslim children may not want to sing about pigs.
However, council education spokesman Jim Dodds told BBC Five Live the decision had been overturned.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Muslim takes sauna in hijab
A MUSLIM woman in full hijab robes was allowed to swelter in a SAUNA because worried staff did not want to offend her.
She then jumped into the sports centre’s swimming pool to cool off while still wearing the black top-to-toe Islamic dress.
Staff did not know if they should enforce a dress code which asks customers to wear SUITABLE clothes.
People in the sauna — all wearing normal swimming cossies — were amazed as the woman joined them in the steam room in her robes.
Last night surprised Muslim spokesman Taj Hargey asked: "How can you swim properly if you wear a hijab?"
After ten minutes in the sauna and ten minutes in the pool the mystery woman changed out of her wet hijab into a dry one in the changing rooms and left alone.
Yesterday members of the David Lloyd Leisure centre in Oxford said they were baffled by the women’s actions.
Club member Ian Caldwell, 46, was sitting in the sauna when the fully-dressed woman walked in.
He said: "I pointed out that it was a sauna and asked her if it was appropriate. All the other women in there were all in bathing costumes.
"When I saw her in the pool later, she was still wearing the Islamic outfit.
"The pool attendant said she was allowed to wear this due to her religious customs. It was just political correctness gone completely barmy. I told the manager that it was my custom to attend saunas naked, as they do in Sweden, and said I trusted he would find that equally acceptable.
"But to be serious, this is a question of hygiene, not religious rights."
Taj, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford, said: "Wearing a veil is nothing to do with Islam, it is a cultural tradition.
"People should have appropriate swimwear when they come to a leisure centre. It is basic common sense."
He added the incident demonstrated a problem among some Muslim women in Britain.
He said: "They think this is their way of making a statement, but this is the worst possible statement. They are shooting themselves in the foot."
Centre manager Liam MacGilp said all pool and sauna attendants had now been briefed on the company’s policy, and that robed or outdoor garments would not be allowed in future.
"The pool attendant said she was allowed to wear this due to her religious customs. It was just political correctness gone completely barmy....But to be serious, this is a question of hygiene, not religious rights."
She then jumped into the sports centre’s swimming pool to cool off while still wearing the black top-to-toe Islamic dress.
Staff did not know if they should enforce a dress code which asks customers to wear SUITABLE clothes.
People in the sauna — all wearing normal swimming cossies — were amazed as the woman joined them in the steam room in her robes.
Last night surprised Muslim spokesman Taj Hargey asked: "How can you swim properly if you wear a hijab?"
After ten minutes in the sauna and ten minutes in the pool the mystery woman changed out of her wet hijab into a dry one in the changing rooms and left alone.
Yesterday members of the David Lloyd Leisure centre in Oxford said they were baffled by the women’s actions.
Club member Ian Caldwell, 46, was sitting in the sauna when the fully-dressed woman walked in.
He said: "I pointed out that it was a sauna and asked her if it was appropriate. All the other women in there were all in bathing costumes.
"When I saw her in the pool later, she was still wearing the Islamic outfit.
"The pool attendant said she was allowed to wear this due to her religious customs. It was just political correctness gone completely barmy. I told the manager that it was my custom to attend saunas naked, as they do in Sweden, and said I trusted he would find that equally acceptable.
"But to be serious, this is a question of hygiene, not religious rights."
Taj, chairman of the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford, said: "Wearing a veil is nothing to do with Islam, it is a cultural tradition.
"People should have appropriate swimwear when they come to a leisure centre. It is basic common sense."
He added the incident demonstrated a problem among some Muslim women in Britain.
He said: "They think this is their way of making a statement, but this is the worst possible statement. They are shooting themselves in the foot."
Centre manager Liam MacGilp said all pool and sauna attendants had now been briefed on the company’s policy, and that robed or outdoor garments would not be allowed in future.
"The pool attendant said she was allowed to wear this due to her religious customs. It was just political correctness gone completely barmy....But to be serious, this is a question of hygiene, not religious rights."
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Al Qaeda Plot to Bring Down UK Internet
Scotland Yard has uncovered an Al Qaeda plot to take the internet offline in Britain, not by hacking into the servers or infecting them with viruses, but with an old-school Denial of Service attack.
SCOTLAND YARD has uncovered evidence that Al-Qaeda has been plotting to bring down the internet in Britain, causing chaos to business and the London Stock Exchange.
In a series of raids, detectives have recovered computer files revealing that terrorist suspects had targeted a high-security internet “hub” in London. The facility, in Docklands, houses the channel through which almost every bit of information on the internet passes in or out of Britain. The suspects, who were arrested, had targeted the headquarters of Telehouse Europe, which houses Europe’s biggest “web hotel”, containing dozens of “servers” , the boxes which contain the information that makes up the web.
A senior Whitehall security official said the internet plotters appeared to be planning to infiltrate the “hub”, possibly to blow it up from the inside, according to evidence on a computer hard drive seized in raids on the homes of terror suspects in southern England last year.
“The Telehouse facility was the subject of intense reconnaissance. The evidence suggests that it was one of a range of options considered by the suspects,” the official said.
SCOTLAND YARD has uncovered evidence that Al-Qaeda has been plotting to bring down the internet in Britain, causing chaos to business and the London Stock Exchange.
In a series of raids, detectives have recovered computer files revealing that terrorist suspects had targeted a high-security internet “hub” in London. The facility, in Docklands, houses the channel through which almost every bit of information on the internet passes in or out of Britain. The suspects, who were arrested, had targeted the headquarters of Telehouse Europe, which houses Europe’s biggest “web hotel”, containing dozens of “servers” , the boxes which contain the information that makes up the web.
A senior Whitehall security official said the internet plotters appeared to be planning to infiltrate the “hub”, possibly to blow it up from the inside, according to evidence on a computer hard drive seized in raids on the homes of terror suspects in southern England last year.
“The Telehouse facility was the subject of intense reconnaissance. The evidence suggests that it was one of a range of options considered by the suspects,” the official said.
Britain's Huge Problem
A leading academic is warning that radical Islamic ideology has grown much faster and spread much farther in Britain’s universities than the government wishes to acknowledge: Islamic extremists ‘infiltrate Oxbridge’.
Leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge have been targeted by Islamic extremists who remain widely active on campuses, a prominent academic is warning.
Up to 48 British universities have been infiltrated by fundamentalists and the threat posed by radical groups must be “urgently addressed”, according to Prof Anthony Glees.
The claim calls into question the Government’s attempted crackdown on Islamic extremism in universities and casts doubt on claims by Bill Rammell, the Higher Education Minister, that the problem is not widespread.
Prof Glees will warn the Association of University Chief Security Officers (Aucso) next month that the disbanded extremist group, al-Muhajiroun, claims to have infiltrated “the main campuses such as Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics and Imperial College”.
His speech on “radicalism in universities” also states that at its peak before the July 7 bombings in 2005, al-Muhajiroun had a presence at “more than 48 universities and faculties”, and that Omar Bakri Mohammed, the group’s founder, claims it is “still operational” in several campuses.
Leading universities including Oxford and Cambridge have been targeted by Islamic extremists who remain widely active on campuses, a prominent academic is warning.
Up to 48 British universities have been infiltrated by fundamentalists and the threat posed by radical groups must be “urgently addressed”, according to Prof Anthony Glees.
The claim calls into question the Government’s attempted crackdown on Islamic extremism in universities and casts doubt on claims by Bill Rammell, the Higher Education Minister, that the problem is not widespread.
Prof Glees will warn the Association of University Chief Security Officers (Aucso) next month that the disbanded extremist group, al-Muhajiroun, claims to have infiltrated “the main campuses such as Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics and Imperial College”.
His speech on “radicalism in universities” also states that at its peak before the July 7 bombings in 2005, al-Muhajiroun had a presence at “more than 48 universities and faculties”, and that Omar Bakri Mohammed, the group’s founder, claims it is “still operational” in several campuses.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Cartoon protest man found guilty
A man protesting against cartoons of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad has been found guilty of soliciting murder.
Abdul Muhid was convicted on two counts at the Old Bailey.
Muhid, from Whitechapel, east London, led the crowd in chanting "bomb, bomb the UK" and produced placards with slogans, the court heard.
Said to be one of the organisers of the protest in central London on 3 February 2006, halal meat inspector Muhid had denied the charges.
Muhid, 24, was one of hundreds of people who marched from Regent's Park mosque to the Danish embassy in Knightsbridge.
It was one of many demonstrations across Europe and the Middle East against cartoons satirising Muhammad, which were first published in Denmark.
Abdul Muhid was convicted on two counts at the Old Bailey.
Muhid, from Whitechapel, east London, led the crowd in chanting "bomb, bomb the UK" and produced placards with slogans, the court heard.
Said to be one of the organisers of the protest in central London on 3 February 2006, halal meat inspector Muhid had denied the charges.
Muhid, 24, was one of hundreds of people who marched from Regent's Park mosque to the Danish embassy in Knightsbridge.
It was one of many demonstrations across Europe and the Middle East against cartoons satirising Muhammad, which were first published in Denmark.
Muhid, who has a previous conviction for smashing a bus stop which featured an advert that offended his religious sensibilities, had argued the cartoons protest was meant to show the hurt and distress Muslims were suffering.
Anti west protester Abdul Muhid enjoying a McDonalds drink
The court heard that at the London protest the slogans included "annihilate those who insult Islam", "fantastic four are on their way" and "3/11 is on its way".
The latter two referred to terrorist attacks in London and Madrid, the jury heard.
During the trial, David Perry QC, prosecuting, said: "The drawings of the prophet had not appeared in any UK newspaper.
"This was supposed to be a demonstration against the publication of the drawings in the newspapers abroad.
"This behaviour shows what the demonstration was really about. It was an exhortation, an encouragement to terrorism."
Video footage seized from a mosque showed Muhid carrying placards into the building courtyard, the Old Bailey heard earlier.
He was also seen wearing a jacket with the slogan "soldier of Allah".
Muhid was remanded in custody after the verdict.
Anti west protester Abdul Muhid enjoying a McDonalds drink
The court heard that at the London protest the slogans included "annihilate those who insult Islam", "fantastic four are on their way" and "3/11 is on its way".
The latter two referred to terrorist attacks in London and Madrid, the jury heard.
During the trial, David Perry QC, prosecuting, said: "The drawings of the prophet had not appeared in any UK newspaper.
"This was supposed to be a demonstration against the publication of the drawings in the newspapers abroad.
"This behaviour shows what the demonstration was really about. It was an exhortation, an encouragement to terrorism."
Video footage seized from a mosque showed Muhid carrying placards into the building courtyard, the Old Bailey heard earlier.
He was also seen wearing a jacket with the slogan "soldier of Allah".Muhid was remanded in custody after the verdict.
Veil-row assistant appeals
Mrs Azmi was suspended then sacked last year after her pupils at Headfield Church of England Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, had complained they found it hard to understand her because they could not see her lips move.
At the London Employment Appeal Tribunal, Mrs Azmi's counsel, Declan O'Dempsey, compared his client's dismissal to stopping a Christian from wearing a cross or attending Mass.
He said: "We say the (previous) tribunal should have constituted this as discrimination on the grounds of religious belief."
The tribunal is expected to rule on the appeal in a written judgment later this year.
i think britney britsh sum this up nicely.
How they can equate smothering your voice in a classroom and damaging children's ability to learn with someone wearing a crusifix or attending a church is bloody rediculous! Why hasn't this been thrown out of court? Islam does not prescribe the jihab so how can they claim it was be a breach of religious freedom? How many times are we told by muslim women that wearing the jihab is a personal thing and not something forced onto them. They twist the facts around to suit each different situation.
Has this woman not already admitted she was 'encouraged' to take the matter to court by muslim organisations? She probably knows the pupils couldn't hear her in class. The muslim organisations who are behind this piss-take do not care about infidel children. All they care about is speeding up the Islamification of Britain by whatever means, including taking advantage of situations like this. If this teaching assistant wins here appeal, you can be sure most, if not all, muslim school staff suddenly start wearing the full jihab. They will be pressurised by muslim organisations to do so.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
UK Imam Justifies Beheading of Ken Bigley
In this clip, a British Muslim cleric praises the videotaped beheading murder of British hostage Ken Bigley as an act of war, says Bigley embraced Islam before he was slaughtered—then jokes about it. You may need to double up on your blood pressure meds before watching this, and remove throwable objects from the vicinity of your computer display.The face of evil: imperviously stupid and violent.
Rusty points out that another video shot at the same time shows recently-arrested terror supporter Omar Brooks, aka Abu Izzadeen, sitting next to this cleric (off-camera here), which means these Muslims are probably followers of Omar Bakri.
And Rusty’s right on target with these comments:
In the video, the speaker justifies Kenneth Bigley’s murder on the grounds that Bigley was in Iraq to help fix military hardware which would then be used to “kill Muslims”. This is not true. Kenneth Bigley, Jack Hensley, and Eugene Armstrong were in Iraq to work on civilian reconstruction efforts. They were there helping Muslims. It is al Qaeda in Iraq that continues to murder Muslims to this day.
The speaker then says Bigley was in Iraq to “steal the money of the Muslims”. Which, of course, is also patently untrue. Ken Bigley was being paid by the U.S. government to help the Iraqis rebuild their country so that Muslims in Iraq would have a functioning economy so that they could earn money for themselves. It is those that murdered Ken Bigley that steal money from Muslims by blowing up Iraq’s infrastructure.
The speaker, in what seems to be a bit of “humor”, warns that people involved in the reconstruction effort—or, as he deems it, “stealing from Muslims”—-should “mind your head”. No doubt, a reference to the dozens of civilians beheaded by al Qaeda and other jihadi groups in Iraq.
Last, even though Bigley “converted” to Islam at the point of a knife, the speaker reiterates that since Islam forbids forced conversions, then Bigley must have become a Muslim of his own free will. See if you follow that sick and twisted logic? And if that is the case, even though the speaker does not say it in this video, those listening would undoubtedly understand another reason why his murder was “justified”. To the Salafi jihadi mind, Muslims helping the U.S. and U.K. in Iraq are “traitors”.
Related:
Zarqawi Releases Video of Kenneth Bigley Begging for his Life
New Kenneth Bigley Propaganda Film Released
Kenneth Bigley Escape Attempt Confirmed
Website Claims British Hostage Ken Bigley Executed
Kenneth Bigley Beheaded in Iraq
Search For Ken Bigley's Remains
American Hostage Jack Hensley Beheading Murder
American Hostage Eugene Armstrong Beheaded on Video
For more on the plight of hostages being held by Muslim extremists, see our extensive hostage archive here.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
UK Islamic Schools: No Oversight
Following the revelations that many Islamic schools in Britain are teaching hatred of non-Muslims, and that clerics in “mainstream” mosques are preaching jihad, we learn today that more than half of the Muslim schools in the UK are not even inspected.
More than half of private Muslim schools have not been inspected for five years, while some have not received a full inspection for a decade.
An analysis of the 114 independent Islamic schools in England registered with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has found that Ofsted reports are available for only 53. Most of these involve recent visits, but two reports are for the 1997-98 academic year.
Most of the other 61 schools, and their 6,000 pupils, were inspected five or more years ago but, because of a gap in the law, their reports have never been made public. The law has now been changed, but is not retrospective.
Seventeen schools have no listing on the website of Ofsted - the official inspection body - making it impossible to establish whether they have ever been visited.
News of the apparent gaps in monitoring comes as questions are being raised about whether some Muslim schools are adequately preparing children for life in Britain. The Government recently closed an Islamic school in East Sussex, which was raided by police as part of an anti-terror operation, because it did not meet registration standards.
Last month, King Fahad Academy, a west London school funded by the Saudi government, was condemned for using text books that described Jews as "pigs".
Muslim parents are increasingly choosing the private sector because they feel the state sector does not cater for their children.
Last month, the Muslim Council of Britain accused state schools of failing to respect Muslim wishes and called on headmasters to open prayer rooms, introduce single changing cubicles, overhaul sex education and reschedule exams outside Ramadan.
A report by the Open Society Institute says there has been a threefold increase in the number of private Muslim schools in Britain in the past 10 years. They now educate three per cent of Britain's 400,000 Muslim pupils. An ICM poll of British Muslims in 2004 showed nearly half wanted their children to attend Muslim schools. Islamic schools on the DfES register are funded -privately, through the support of local mosques, other private funding and fees - of up to several thousand pounds a year - paid by parents. A number are registered as charities.
Like all the 2,000 independent schools in England registered with the DfES, they are not required to follow the national curriculum. They often devote a lot of time to Islamic studies.
A number of Ofsted reports are critical of poor buildings, inadequate resources, poor management, unqualified teachers and the low level of general education in some Muslim schools.
There are currently seven state-funded Muslim schools with three more in the pipeline. Ministers believe that if the schools are brought into the state system, they will be monitored more closely and have to follow the national curriculum.
David Willetts, the shadow education secretary, said: "All schools, whether state sector, independent sector or faith schools, are subject to the Ofsted inspection regime. It is not acceptable that a -significant number in a particular category, namely independent Muslim schools, appear to be escaping the rigour of the inspection regime."
Mohamad Mukadam, the chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools, said: "Ofsted has the power to inspect independent schools and has not found anything that should worry people about Muslim schools.
"To judge our schools we need to look at the young people that are coming out of them and compare them with those -coming out of the comprehensive system. There is a marked improvement in the academic results being achieved in Muslim schools, a higher amount of young people progressing to higher education, and a far higher proportion going on to work in the professions."
An Ofsted official said: "Since the introduction of the Education Regulations 2003, there has been a cycle for the inspection of all -independent schools who are not members of the Independent Schools Council and covered by their inspectorate.
"Ofsted has not yet completed the first full cycle of reported inspections, but it will be completed by the end of March 2008." If a school had no published report it had not yet had a full reported inspection, but would have one in the next year.
More than half of private Muslim schools have not been inspected for five years, while some have not received a full inspection for a decade.
An analysis of the 114 independent Islamic schools in England registered with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has found that Ofsted reports are available for only 53. Most of these involve recent visits, but two reports are for the 1997-98 academic year.
Most of the other 61 schools, and their 6,000 pupils, were inspected five or more years ago but, because of a gap in the law, their reports have never been made public. The law has now been changed, but is not retrospective.
Seventeen schools have no listing on the website of Ofsted - the official inspection body - making it impossible to establish whether they have ever been visited.
News of the apparent gaps in monitoring comes as questions are being raised about whether some Muslim schools are adequately preparing children for life in Britain. The Government recently closed an Islamic school in East Sussex, which was raided by police as part of an anti-terror operation, because it did not meet registration standards.
Last month, King Fahad Academy, a west London school funded by the Saudi government, was condemned for using text books that described Jews as "pigs".
Muslim parents are increasingly choosing the private sector because they feel the state sector does not cater for their children.
Last month, the Muslim Council of Britain accused state schools of failing to respect Muslim wishes and called on headmasters to open prayer rooms, introduce single changing cubicles, overhaul sex education and reschedule exams outside Ramadan.
A report by the Open Society Institute says there has been a threefold increase in the number of private Muslim schools in Britain in the past 10 years. They now educate three per cent of Britain's 400,000 Muslim pupils. An ICM poll of British Muslims in 2004 showed nearly half wanted their children to attend Muslim schools. Islamic schools on the DfES register are funded -privately, through the support of local mosques, other private funding and fees - of up to several thousand pounds a year - paid by parents. A number are registered as charities.
Like all the 2,000 independent schools in England registered with the DfES, they are not required to follow the national curriculum. They often devote a lot of time to Islamic studies.
A number of Ofsted reports are critical of poor buildings, inadequate resources, poor management, unqualified teachers and the low level of general education in some Muslim schools.
There are currently seven state-funded Muslim schools with three more in the pipeline. Ministers believe that if the schools are brought into the state system, they will be monitored more closely and have to follow the national curriculum.
David Willetts, the shadow education secretary, said: "All schools, whether state sector, independent sector or faith schools, are subject to the Ofsted inspection regime. It is not acceptable that a -significant number in a particular category, namely independent Muslim schools, appear to be escaping the rigour of the inspection regime."
Mohamad Mukadam, the chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools, said: "Ofsted has the power to inspect independent schools and has not found anything that should worry people about Muslim schools.
"To judge our schools we need to look at the young people that are coming out of them and compare them with those -coming out of the comprehensive system. There is a marked improvement in the academic results being achieved in Muslim schools, a higher amount of young people progressing to higher education, and a far higher proportion going on to work in the professions."
An Ofsted official said: "Since the introduction of the Education Regulations 2003, there has been a cycle for the inspection of all -independent schools who are not members of the Independent Schools Council and covered by their inspectorate.
"Ofsted has not yet completed the first full cycle of reported inspections, but it will be completed by the end of March 2008." If a school had no published report it had not yet had a full reported inspection, but would have one in the next year.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
16,000 say no to mosque
Sixteen thousand residents have put their name to a petition protesting against plans for a mosque and community centre in Dudley.
The dossier of signatures was delivered by Ukip Councillor Malcolm Davis to Dudley Council yesterday - the deadline day for objections.
Despite the overwhelming opposition to the project, the Express & Star revealed the £18 million scheme earmarked for land in Hall Street had been recommended for approval in "exceptional circumstances."
Planners have admitted the scheme does go against planning guidelines which say industrial land should be used for developments generating industrial jobs.Councillors on the development control committee now have to decide whether to approve the application - or reject the advice and throw out the scheme at a public meeting on Tuesday.
Ukip Councillor Malcolm Davis, who has led opposition to the multi-million pound proposals, previously said recommending the scheme for approval would be a "monumental disgrace".
Dudley Muslim Association submitted plans for the £12million community centre and £6million mosque with 65ft minaret on January 15. Opposition to the project has grown after the original plans sparked protests from more than 2,000 people in 2005.
Despite Dudley Muslim Association saying it would allay people’s fears, the revised scheme has attracting even more objections.
Protestors say the scheme would not fit in with Dudley’s heritage and would cause traffic congestion.
But Dudley Muslim Association Khurshid Ahmed said most of the objections were based on misconceptions about the size of the project and how it would be funded.
The dossier of signatures was delivered by Ukip Councillor Malcolm Davis to Dudley Council yesterday - the deadline day for objections.
Despite the overwhelming opposition to the project, the Express & Star revealed the £18 million scheme earmarked for land in Hall Street had been recommended for approval in "exceptional circumstances."
Planners have admitted the scheme does go against planning guidelines which say industrial land should be used for developments generating industrial jobs.Councillors on the development control committee now have to decide whether to approve the application - or reject the advice and throw out the scheme at a public meeting on Tuesday.
Ukip Councillor Malcolm Davis, who has led opposition to the multi-million pound proposals, previously said recommending the scheme for approval would be a "monumental disgrace".
Dudley Muslim Association submitted plans for the £12million community centre and £6million mosque with 65ft minaret on January 15. Opposition to the project has grown after the original plans sparked protests from more than 2,000 people in 2005.
Despite Dudley Muslim Association saying it would allay people’s fears, the revised scheme has attracting even more objections.
Protestors say the scheme would not fit in with Dudley’s heritage and would cause traffic congestion.
But Dudley Muslim Association Khurshid Ahmed said most of the objections were based on misconceptions about the size of the project and how it would be funded.
no thank you
An £18 million mosque and community centre for Dudley has been thrown out against the advice of planning experts – but the battle will almost certainly continue with an appeal. Anti-mosque campaigners cheered after proposals for a £6 million mosque with 65ft minaret and £12 million community centre were rejected by all nine members of the planning committee.
Click here to see the video.
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Thursday, March 01, 2007
Cambridge Students May Be Prosecuted for Publishing Danish Cartoon
As we noted earlier this month, two students at Cambridge’s Clare College are in big trouble after publishing one of the dreaded Danish cartoons of blasphemy, and today comes word that they’ve been questioned by British police and may be prosecuted: Clare college students questioned.
The controversy over the publication of one of the now infamous Jyllands Posten Mohammed cartoons in a Cambridge University student publication has taken on a new seriousness, after two students were questioned under caution by Cambridgeshire police.
The students, understood to be the editor and guest editor of unofficial Clare College magazine Clareification (renamed Crucification for an issue focused on religious satire) were interrogated under Section 5 of the Public Order Act (“harassment, alarm or distress”).
Police confirmed to Index that the students were questioned last Friday, and a file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether to press charges against the students in the coming weeks.
The controversy over the publication of one of the now infamous Jyllands Posten Mohammed cartoons in a Cambridge University student publication has taken on a new seriousness, after two students were questioned under caution by Cambridgeshire police.
The students, understood to be the editor and guest editor of unofficial Clare College magazine Clareification (renamed Crucification for an issue focused on religious satire) were interrogated under Section 5 of the Public Order Act (“harassment, alarm or distress”).
Police confirmed to Index that the students were questioned last Friday, and a file has been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether to press charges against the students in the coming weeks.
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