The Muslim News

News and Views of Muslims in The United Kingdom

Friday 24 April 1998 - 27 Dhu al Hijjah 1418

Unique school in Liverpool

A unique school, celebrating the range of faiths and ‘ethnic’ groups in the Granby area of Liverpool is to open in the autumn term in 1999, under primary school re-organisation. Education Committee Chair Councillor Neville Bann and Opposition Education Spokesperson, Councillor Paul Clein, said in a joint statement: “This is an extremely exciting proposal which would both recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity of this area of the city.”

Protest against mixed swimming

The mother of a 13-year-old girl is courting the displeasure of her daughter's school by unilaterally withdrawing her from Swimming lessons. “This is not just of concern to me as a Muslim”, Mrs Nasira Younus, mother of 13-year-old Nosheen, told The Muslim News. She added: “I think many parents would be concerned that girls at a vulnerable age who are very conscious of their bodies are being made to swim in mixed sessions.” Nosheen attends Lister Community School in Newham, east London, and although Muslim girls at the school are allowed to wear leggings and t-shirts in the mixed PE and Swimming lessons, Mrs Younus was dissatisfied because her daughter felt uncomfortable wearing clothing which clung to the body when wet in the mixed swimming sessions. “My daughter does not wear hijab (head scarf) to school, but many other girls do. How must they feel when they have to take part in mixed swimming lessons?” asked Mrs Younus. “I am sure many of these girls’ parents are unaware that this is happening and the girls feel they have no choice in the matter are helpless and perhaps even lying to them.”

Peace Concert

Assalamu ‘alaykum - Peace be with you. Peace to all humanity. Peace in this world.

Peace was the key word to be hummed and echoed at Wembley Conference Centre, north-west London, on the evening of April 11, when Islamic Relief held its first ever concert to celebrate ‘id as well as to raise funds for their Orphan Welfare Programme.

Muslims score a goal over World Cup footballs

Indian-manufactured promotional plastic footballs, covered in the flags of all the World Cup competing nations, have been withdrawn from sale in Rotherham, south Yorkshire. Muslims who had objected to the Shahada, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadun Rasulu Allah” (There is no deity except Allah and Muhamad is His Messenger) written on the Saudi flag, and used as a football. “For God’s name to be kicked about is a great insult to Muslims,” Rotherham Councillor, Nazir Ahmed, explained to The Muslim News.

Rushdie provokes Muslims

Salman Rushdie’s publishers, Random House, announced on ‘id day (April 7), that they were to issue a paperback edition of the Satanic Verses.

The Muslim community condemned Rushdie for the maximum hurt he has shown by announcing his new paperback on ‘id day. “This just shows how much hatred he harbours towards Muslims that he always has to pick our holiest days to peddle his filthy views about Islam and Muslims, knowing full well that the intense hurt it will have on Muslims,” Jahangir Muhammad, Deputy Leader of Muslim Parliament told The Muslim News. A limited edition paperback was published in 1994 by The Consortium, an alliance of US publishers. The new paperback edition will be issued by Vantage, an offshoot of Random House.

Protest against halal slaughter

Animal rights group protested against sheep being slaughtered for ‘id al-Adha in Havering, Upminster, even though the animals slaughtered there were stunned before being slaughtered. Over 1,200 sheep were slaughtered for Muslims from east London.

Kamal Siddiqui, Chairman of Essex Islamic Trust, told The Muslim News that Muslims should “be allowed to practise their religion”. Mr Sarfaz Sarwar , from Basildon, Essex, said: “Why is it that no one objects to the millions of turkeys who are slaughtered during Christmas? Why just pick on Muslims?”

Adoption of children falls

A new study claims that 'politically correct' social workers who block mixed-race adoptions sometimes condemn a child unnecessarily to years in care “inspite of the fact that adopted children usually thrive whereas children left in the local authority care system are unlikely to do well”. The shortage of parents willing to adopt from the ethnic minorities and the establishment of the principle that transracial adoption is damaging to non-white children has meant that it is mainly these children which are languishing in care homes, becoming more and more damaged and therefore more difficult to adopt even if racially suitable parents were found.

Labour Cllrs defect to Tories

Two Labour Coventry city councillors have defected to the Conservative Party. Jaswant Singh and Shabbir Ahmed, both representing the inner-city St Michael’s ward, resigned on March 25 after claiming that the Labour Party had failed to live up to the needs of the ‘ethnic’ minorities. “There are 12,000 Muslims in Coventry and so far we have not been able to have any input in the policy making in the Labour Party,” Cllr Ahmed told The Muslim News.

Pensioners missing out

Age Concern, the charity which campaigns for and behalf of Britain's elderly held a 'Your Rights Week' from April 3 - 9.

Research has shown that pensioners are the biggest group missing out on state benefits, yet the poorest 20 per cent of single older people are living on an average of £68.40 per week. Some pensioners, it was claimed by Age Concern, could double their income if only they knew their entitlements. One of the biggest areas of non-claiming is in that of Attendance Allowance. 60 per cent of disabled older people don't claim this allowance and so they can lose out on between £30 and £50 a week depending on the severity of their conditions. Age Concern says that pensioners do not claim their benefits for a variety of reasons including confusion or apprehension at the procedures to be followed, or a feeling of stigma or simple lack of awareness of their eligibility. Throughout 'Your Rights Week' they provided a Helpline which pensioners could phone for help and information. They have also produced leaflets and recommend the book 'Your Rights', Age Concern's best selling guide to money benefits for older people by Sally West.

Chechen President's successful visit to Britain

President Aslan Maskhadov of Chechnya (or as, the Chechens prefer to call it, the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria) had a successful visit to Britain last month. He was on a private visit, invited by Lord Alistair MacAlpine, Leader of the Referendum Movement and former Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of the Conservative Party. The President met businessmen, Muslim community leaders, Foreign Office officials, Lady Thatcher and visited various institutions.

Islamic Releif's alternative 'id celebrations

April 11, saw Islamic Relief bring their national concert tour to the Wembley Conference Centre in north-west London as part of the celebrations for 'id al-Adha. The evening was primarily set up as a children's programme, where fun and games would occupy most of the function.