British School Lads Forced to Pray to Allah
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031784/Schoolboys-punished-detention-refusing-kneel-pray-Allah.html?printingPage=true
DAILY MAIL - July 4, 2008
Schoolboys punished with detention for refusing
to kneel in class and pray to Allah
Two schoolboys were given detention after refusing to kneel down and
'pray to Allah' during a religious education lesson.
Parents were outraged that the two boys from year seven (11 to
12-year-olds) were punished for not wanting to take part in the
practical demonstration of how Allah is worshipped.
They said forcing their children to take part in the exercise at Alsager
High School, near Stoke-on-Trent - which included wearing Muslim
headgear - was a breach of their human rights.
One parent, Sharon Luinen, said: "This isn't right, it's taking things
too far.
"I understand that they have to learn about other religions. I can live
with that but it is taking it a step too far to be punished because they
wouldn't join in Muslim prayer.
"Making them pray to Allah, who isn't who they worship, is wrong and
what got me is that they were told they were being disrespectful.
"I don't want this to look as if I have a problem with the school
because I am generally very happy with it."
Another parent Karen Williams said: "I am absolutely furious my daughter
was made to take part in it and I don't find it acceptable.
"I haven't got a problem with them teaching my child other religions and
a small amount of information doesn't do any harm.
"But not only did they have to pray, the teacher had gone into the class
and made them watch a short film and then said 'we are now going out to
pray to Allah'.
"Then two boys got detention and all the other children missed their
refreshment break because of the teacher.
"Not only was it forced upon them, my daughter was told off for not
doing it right.
"They'd never done it before and they were supposed to do it in another
language."
"My child has been forced to pray to Allah in a school lesson." The
grandfather of one of the pupils in the class said: "It's absolutely
disgusting, there's no other way of putting it.
"My daughter and a lot of other mothers are furious about their children
being made to kneel on the floor and pray to Islam. If they didn't do it
they were given detention.
"I am not racist, I've been friendly with an Indian for 30 years. I've
also been to a Muslim wedding where it was explained to me that alcohol
would not be served and I respected that.
"But if Muslims were asked to go to church on Sunday and take Holy
Communion there would be war."
Parents said that their children were made to bend down on their knees
on prayer mats which the RE teacher had got out of her cupboard and they
were also told to wear Islamic headgear during the lesson on Tuesday
afternoon.
Deputy headmaster Keith Plant said: "It's difficult to know at the
moment whether this was part of the curriculum or not. I am not an RE
teacher, I am an English teacher.
"At the moment it is our enterprise week and many of our members of
staff are away.
"The particular member of staff you need to speak to isn't around. I
think that it is a shame that so many parents have got in touch with the
Press before coming to me.
"I have spoken to the teacher and she has articulately given me her
version of events, but that is all I can give you at the moment."
A statement from Cheshire County Council on behalf of the school read:
"The headteacher David Black contacted this authority immediately
complaints were received.
"Enquiries are being made into the circumstances as a matter of urgency
and all parents will be informed accordingly.
"Educating children in the beliefs of different faith is part of the
diversity curriculum on the basis that knowledge is essential to
understanding.
"We accept that such teaching is to be conducted with some sense of
sensitivity."