UK: BIRMINGHAM: 1ST ISLAMIC SCHOOL SET UP BY ISLAMIC ACTIVISTS
15.6 هزار بار بازدید -
9 سال پیش
-
(10 Mar 1997) Arabic/Eng/Nat
(10 Mar 1997) Arabic/Eng/Nat
The first Islamic School in the central English town of Birmingham has been set up by Islamic activists to serve the area's Muslim community.
Muslims want the government to fund Islamic schools as they already do for Catholic and Church of England schools.
But critics say separate schools would lessen the understanding between cultures at a time when relations between the communities are improving.
Mustafa Otham is a Egyptian migrant and considers himself lucky to have only boys when it comes to education in Britain.
He says his views reflect those of nearly a quarter of a million parents in England's second largest city who have to live with a non-Muslim education system.
Many parents aren't happy that their daughters and sons are taught in the same school and many don't want them to learn about other religions.
UPSOT: Call to prayers
Not only have local Muslims established the first private Islamic school in Birmingham, here at the Muath Welfare Trust they also teach women life skills such as computing.
The classes for women only also include converts to Islam not all of whom agree with separation.
SOUNDBITE
"I went to a Roman Catholic School, and there's a tendency then if you go to a separate school, you never learn about anybody else, and you grow up with prejudices, and you need to know about what's going on everywhere."
SUPERCION: Maryam Cooper, English Teacher converted to Islam
But it's not the view of all Muslims in Birmingham. They're urging the government to change the law and take into consideration the need of the growing number of British Muslims.
The attitude, they claim, at the moment is that they should have stayed where they came from if they want a true Islamic lifestyle.
A view not shared by Birmingham's Muslims.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"No, there's no logic behind that, and anyone who would think so is simply considered by us, as well as the British law, as having racial tendencies. We are part of this society, we have something that we can offer the British society , we have moral and spiritual values that this society lack"
SUPERCION: Mohammad Al-Masyabi, Executive Director Muath Welfare Trust.
The man in charge of education in Birmingham admits that there is a tradition of allowing Church-aided schools for Catholics, Church of England and Jews, but says it would be a bad move to allow Muslims their own schools.
SOUNDBITE:
"There is a great danger which is that if all of us are educated and live entirely separate it diminishes the likelihood of our understanding each other."
SUPERCION: Tim Brighouse, Birmingham Chief Education Officer
Earlier this year it was announced that a private Islamic school in London, established by the ex-pop star Cat Stevens turned Muslim, who now calls himself Yusef Islam, is to get government financial support.
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The first Islamic School in the central English town of Birmingham has been set up by Islamic activists to serve the area's Muslim community.
Muslims want the government to fund Islamic schools as they already do for Catholic and Church of England schools.
But critics say separate schools would lessen the understanding between cultures at a time when relations between the communities are improving.
Mustafa Otham is a Egyptian migrant and considers himself lucky to have only boys when it comes to education in Britain.
He says his views reflect those of nearly a quarter of a million parents in England's second largest city who have to live with a non-Muslim education system.
Many parents aren't happy that their daughters and sons are taught in the same school and many don't want them to learn about other religions.
UPSOT: Call to prayers
Not only have local Muslims established the first private Islamic school in Birmingham, here at the Muath Welfare Trust they also teach women life skills such as computing.
The classes for women only also include converts to Islam not all of whom agree with separation.
SOUNDBITE
"I went to a Roman Catholic School, and there's a tendency then if you go to a separate school, you never learn about anybody else, and you grow up with prejudices, and you need to know about what's going on everywhere."
SUPERCION: Maryam Cooper, English Teacher converted to Islam
But it's not the view of all Muslims in Birmingham. They're urging the government to change the law and take into consideration the need of the growing number of British Muslims.
The attitude, they claim, at the moment is that they should have stayed where they came from if they want a true Islamic lifestyle.
A view not shared by Birmingham's Muslims.
SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"No, there's no logic behind that, and anyone who would think so is simply considered by us, as well as the British law, as having racial tendencies. We are part of this society, we have something that we can offer the British society , we have moral and spiritual values that this society lack"
SUPERCION: Mohammad Al-Masyabi, Executive Director Muath Welfare Trust.
The man in charge of education in Birmingham admits that there is a tradition of allowing Church-aided schools for Catholics, Church of England and Jews, but says it would be a bad move to allow Muslims their own schools.
SOUNDBITE:
"There is a great danger which is that if all of us are educated and live entirely separate it diminishes the likelihood of our understanding each other."
SUPERCION: Tim Brighouse, Birmingham Chief Education Officer
Earlier this year it was announced that a private Islamic school in London, established by the ex-pop star Cat Stevens turned Muslim, who now calls himself Yusef Islam, is to get government financial support.
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Instagram: Instagram: APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
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