by Kim Rye, TCW
THE spectre of the Batley Grammar School teacher-in-hiding debacle has once again raised its ugly head, with further guidance imposed on schools by Labour councils which deem that children’s illustrations in art lessons ‘might be idolatrous’ under Islamic law. Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, is right to demand that such guidance is withdrawn.
Since when was Islamic law imposed on this country? And how is it that the teacher involved in the catastrophe over images drawn of the Prophet Muhammad is still in hiding, in fear of his life four years after the event? Why are those involved in the threats and fearmongering not dealt with under British law? What happened to real equality?
Besides Muhammad, schoolchildren are also being told not to draw pictures of Jesus because he is revered as prophet in the Koran. How does that sit with the fact that Britain is a Christian nation? This guidance, oddly named Sharing the Journey, advocates that some Muslim parents ‘might have a problem’ with certain aspects of teaching not only in art and religious studies but also in drama and music.
Some non-Muslim parents might have a problem with this fearmongering form of fascism too – but apparently that doesn’t matter.
What next? Banning nativity plays?
Something similar is happening within the UK Scout movement, founded by Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell in 1908, a veteran of the Boer War and a committed Christian.
Fast forward 117 years, and the Scout movement has launched the ‘Islamophobia Awareness Month Blanket Badge’, promoted by the Muslim Scout Fellowship. Suggested activities include learning about Islamic beliefs, visiting mosques, exploring the experiences of British Muslims and running Islam-awareness sessions. (A ‘blanket badge’ is designed to be attached to a blanket or poncho rather than the Scout uniform.)