DAR AL HARB - U.K.: MOSLEMS UPSET WITH A POLITICALLY INCORRECT CURRICULUM

UK lesson plan concerns Muslim educators
By RAPHAEL G. SATTER

Britain is funding a curriculum aimed at teaching children in Muslim religious schools how to steer clear of extremism, but some of the lessons are worrying Muslim educators.

One lesson plan goes something like this: A group of Islamic extremists want to buy fertilizer that could be used to make a bomb. Should the shop keeper sell it to them? Or take Ahmad, whose friends want to attack a local supermarket in retaliation for the war in Iraq. Is it right for Ahmad to harm innocent Britons because their government invaded a Muslim country?

The curriculum's answer in both cases is no, but the fact that these scenarios are being considered at all has prompted concern among Muslim teachers, who question whether they are appropriate for young students.

Some also feel insulted that the program appears to make the assumption that the religious schools - or, madrassas - are teeming with budding terrorists.

"In an educational setting, those propositions are a bit stark," said Tahir Alam, chair of the Muslim Council of Britain's education committee.

The British government acknowledged that the curriculum raised sensitive issues, but said they were needed to give Muslims the practical skills they needed to reject extremism.

"The project ensures that young Muslim students learn the true teachings of Islam," said a spokeswoman for the Department of Communities and Local Government, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

"There will be difficult issues and scenarios to discuss - but it would be wrong to shy away from them," she said.

...

One counterterrorism expert had mixed feelings about the project.

"One lesson from school is not going to change fundamental attitudes," said Peter Neumann, the director of the Center for Defense Studies at King's College, London. But as part of a broader strategy, he said, the lessons could play a valuable role in getting Muslims to place more trust in the British authorities.

"Whether (or not) that's the right way of approaching kids, in principle it's not a bad idea to say: 'Actually, you can trust the authorities. If there is someone talking about jihad, then police is the place you should go to.'"

Sajid Hussain, the program's project manager, said the lessons needed to be taught.

"They were issues young people definitely needed some direction on: For example, whether young Muslims have a responsibility to prevent harm in society when they know that older Muslims may plan something," he said.

...

"Originally we thought it would be best to start looking at these issues a little bit head-on," he said, "but we're dealing with the issues a little more tactfully."

The Nasiha curriculum has received about $198,000 in government money as part of a larger program intended to fight extremism in the Muslim community.

Outside of the East London Mosque, one of the city's largest, opinion was broadly favorable to the idea of lessons to counter extremism.

"The terrorists try to brainwash the young because they are vulnerable," said Asef Zia, 45. whose son, Muhammad, clutched at his shirt.

"Muslims are good people," said Muhammad, 12. "But some bad people say they are Muslims and act wrong and we can teach them."



Pertinent Links:

1) UK lesson plan concerns Muslim educators