Islam's hard-liners push for bans on "un-Islamic" activities
in UK public schools, like swimming in pools in daylight during 
the "holy" month, in case pupils swallow water, which is not
allowed.

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MUSLIMS: 'BAN' UN-ISLAMIC SCHOOLS
21/02/07
By Gabriel Milland

DEMANDS for a ban on "un-Islamic" activities in schools will be 
set out by the Muslim Council of Britain today.

Targets include playground games, swimming lessons, school plays,
parentsAE evenings and even vaccinations.

And the calls for all children to be taught in Taliban-style
conditions will be launched with the help of a senior Government
education adviser.

Professor Tim Brighouse, chief adviser to London schools, was due 
to attend the event at the capital's biggest mosque.

His presence there was seen as "deeply worrying", and a sign that 
the report was backed by the Government.

Tory MP Greg Hands said: "The MCB needs to realise it has to move
closer to the rest of the community, not away from it.

"The presence of Tim Brighouse implies Government backing of this
report. This is very worrying."

Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society said the report 
was a "recipe for disaster".

He added: "Schools with even just a handful of Muslim kids will find
they have to follow these guidelines because there arenAEt the staff 
to have one set of classes for Muslims and another for the rest.

"The MCB shouldn't try to force its religious agenda on children who
may not want it. The Government needs to send the MCB packing. Schools
should be about teaching, not preaching."

The report, Towards Greater Understanding - Meeting The Needs of
Muslim Pupils In State Schools, says all schools should bring in
effective bans for all pupils on "un-Islamic activities" like dance
classes.

It also wants to limit certain activities during Ramadan. They 
include science lessons dealing with sex, parents' evenings, exams 
and immunisation programmes.

The holy month - when eating and drinking is not allowed in daylight
hours - should also see a ban on swimming lessons in case pupils
swallow water in the pool. 

[...]

Full article at "Daily Express"...
http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1264

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