Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

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wautd
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Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

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Beeb
Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

The government says it will not tolerate anti-Semitic and homophobic lessons being taught to Muslim children in the UK.

BBC Panorama found that more than 40 Saudi Students' Schools and Clubs are teaching the official Saudi national curriculum to about 5,000 pupils.

One text book shows how the hands and feet of thieves are chopped off.

The Saudi government said it had no official ties to the part-time schools and clubs and did not endorse them.

However, a building in west London where Panorama obtained one of the text books is owned by the Saudi government.

The director of education for the Saudi Students' Schools and Clubs said the Saudi Cultural Bureau, which is part of the embassy, had authority over the network.

'Hellfire'

Education Secretary Michael Gove said there was no place for the Saudi teachings with regard to Jews or homosexuals in Britain: "To my mind it doesn't seem to me that this is the sort of material that should be used in English schools."

Continue reading the main story

Start Quote
To present it cold as it seems to be here just part of the teaching of Islam, no it's not wise”
End Quote
Neal Robinson

Koran expert
He said in light of the BBC's findings, the school inspectorate Ofsted was looking into the possible regulation and inspection of out-of-hours schools and clubs. At present, part-time schools do not fall within Ofsted's mandate.

"Ofsted are doing some work in this area, they'll be reporting to me shortly about how we can ensure that part-time provision is better registered and better inspected in the future," Mr Gove said.

One of the text books asks children to list the "reprehensible" qualities of Jewish people. A text for younger children asks what happens to someone who dies who is not a believer in Islam - the answer given in the text book is "hellfire".

Another text describes the punishment for gay sex as death and states a difference of opinion about whether it should be carried out by stoning, burning with fire or throwing the person over a cliff.


In a book for 14-year-olds, Sharia law and its punishment for theft are explained, including detailed diagrams about how hands and feet of thieves are amputated.

'Out of context'
In a written response, the Saudi embassy said such materials were often taken out of context and often referred to historical descriptions.

But Neal Robinson, an expert in the Koran, said the context in which the materials are presented comes with risks.

"To present it cold, as it seems to be here, just part of the teaching of Islam, no it's not wise. In the wrong hands I think it is... ammunition for anti-Semitism."

The use of these materials in Britain comes three years after a BBC investigation found a Saudi-funded school in west London was using texts that referred to Jewish people and Christians in derogatory terms. That prompted assurances at the highest diplomatic levels that the materials would be removed.

Panorama has also found evidence of extreme views on some private, full-time Muslim school websites, including messages that state: "Our children are exposed to a culture that is in opposition to almost everything Islam stands for" and "We need to defend our children from the forces of evil".
MP Barry Sheerman, former Labour chairman of the Children, Schools and Families parliamentary committee, said politicians had avoided the issue of controversial teachings in some Muslim schools.

"There are some very good Muslim schools but there are some Muslim schools that give me great cause for concern that is often around the ethos of the schools, the focus of the school and the kind of ideology that is concerning."

Dr Usama Hasan, an Islamic scholar and part-time imam in east London, warned of the dangers of segregating young Muslims in Britain, particularly the seminaries where the next generation of imams are being educated.

"They don't interact with people who are not Muslim... they don't learn the ingredients of the western world, so it's very easy for them to read the medieval texts which were written at a time when Islam was under attack and say non-believers are our enemies and we have to fight them."

Panorama: British Schools, Islamic Rules, BBC One, Monday, 22 November at 2030GMT then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer.
(Bolded mine)

Yeah, lets brainwash those kids or we might risk they integrate and become a functional member of our modern society
Psychic_Sandwich
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Re: Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

Post by Psychic_Sandwich »

Yeah, lets brainwash those kids or we might risk they integrate and become a functional member of our modern society
Fortunately, in most cases they appear to fail. I see loads of Muslim girls and ladies walking around in what is basically the same dress as everybody else just with added headscarf - which often seems to be just another excuse to show off fashion - and almost none in burqas or niqabs, just to take an example. That sort of thing makes national news when a pupil tries it at school rather than wear the uniform, which has the effect of blowing everything out of proportion. After all, if it was common, it wouldn't be in the news, would it? :P

Anway, good on the ConDems for at least noticing that there's a problem somewhere. Just because it doesn't seem hugely effective, doesn't mean it should be tolerated.
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Re: Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

Post by Lonestar »

We actually have a similiar problem with a school run by the Saudi Royal Family here in Northern Virginia(over here). I recall that the WaPo found out that some of their curriculum was basically the Saudi National one and a big stink was raised about it. They've tried to re-badge themselves since then.
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Hillary
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Re: Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

Post by Hillary »

I do have to wonder how much of this is sensationalised.

For instance, when I was 6 or 7, I was taken to Sunday School by my sister. I learnt about Noah's Ark, the 10 Commandments, the parting of the Red Sea by Noah, Heaven and Hell - all of which could be spun as religiously intolerant stories unsuitable for children of that age. After all, do you want your young child exposed to stories of a genocidal God, drowning every human bar one family and how all non-believers burn in agony in hell for all eternity?

I'm not entirely sure how helpful this story is, in a country where all Muslims are routinely tarred with the Fundy brush.
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Re: Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

Post by Rye »

Hillary wrote:I do have to wonder how much of this is sensationalised.

For instance, when I was 6 or 7, I was taken to Sunday School by my sister. I learnt about Noah's Ark, the 10 Commandments, the parting of the Red Sea by Noah, Heaven and Hell - all of which could be spun as religiously intolerant stories unsuitable for children of that age. After all, do you want your young child exposed to stories of a genocidal God, drowning every human bar one family and how all non-believers burn in agony in hell for all eternity?
Not overly, no. I'm also not keen on materials that show where to make the cuts on people's hands and feet for Sharia Law, discussions on what to do with homosexuals (be it execution by stoning, fire or throwing off mountains only), or stuff that tells women they shouldn't leave the house unless absolutely necessary.
I'm not entirely sure how helpful this story is, in a country where all Muslims are routinely tarred with the Fundy brush.
To be fair, it wouldn't be that difficult to be progressive muslims, divorcing themselves from Saudi influences in Mosques and associated schools, but it's like they don't want to.
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Re: Saudi school lessons in UK concern government

Post by wautd »

The docu in question:

Part 1
Part 2

I didn't have the chance to watch it myself yet, so no further comment.
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