‘Muslims get their own school loos’

Wednesday, 03 December 2008 18:09

The sort of headline that is to be expected from the Daily Star in presentation and prominence; the story appears on page 2 of the paper.

It refers to the publication of guidance on community cohesion by the Catholic Education Service, 'Catholic Schools and Community Cohesion' and in conformity with new statutory requirements that schools implement and be inspected on how well they perform on indicators of community cohesion.

The Daily Star writes that ‘Bishops have shocked parents as they [guidance] go beyond legal requirements on catering for the rights of religious minorities'. Although, the Star article quotes no parents of children in Catholic schools in England and Wales to substantiate the claim.

The article goes on to state that the ‘country’s 2,300 RC primary and secondary schools would have to pay out for bidets, foot spas and hoses as well as prayer rooms’.

The paper’s references to the elaborate alterations repeat the claims that appeared in yesterday’s Daily Mail. Muslims reading this will no doubt wonder where the instruction on installing bidets and foot spas comes from when no mosque in the UK features any of these items in their washroom facilities for Muslims.

More worrisome, though perhaps wholly characteristic of the Daily Star’s venomous treatment of Muslim related stories – the paper asks readers to vote on whether ‘Islam is taking over?’

The CES guidance document states that 'school communities aim to foster appropriate attitudes: for example, respect for truth; respect for the views of others; awareness of the spiritual, of moral responsibility, of the demands of religious commitment in everyday life and especially of the challenge of living in a multicultural, multi faith society'. Some of the Daily Star's journalists would no doubt benefit from returning to school.

You can contact the author of 'Muslims get their own loos' on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Comments

Add New