Muslim Council of Britain Lists Demands of British Public Schools

The Muslim Council of Britain released a set of demands on Wednesday, hoping to ban what it calls "un-Islamic" activities in Britain's public schools. Playground games, school plays and assemblies, swimming lessons, field trips and even vaccinations.

Professor Tim Brighthouse, the chief advisor to London schools, was set to attend the MCB presentation, a sign some see as "deeply worrying," as it may fuel fears that the demands are made with government approval.  

"The presence of Tim Brighouse implies Government backing of this report," says Tory MP Greg Hands. "This is very worrying." Adds Terry Sanderson, from the National Secular Society, the report is a "recipe for disaster."

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

Riling opponents even further is the fact that the report, titled "Towards Greater Understanding - Meeting the Needs of Muslim Pupils in State Schools," demands that schools should ban all pupils, not just Muslim students, from what the report deems "un-Islamic activies." Activities which would be included in the ban are dance classes, co-ed swimming, co-ed school trips and art classes which include the drawing of human figures.

Ramadan - the Muslim holy month - is given even greater treatment. Swimming, should it be allowed in general, would not be allowed under the demands of the new report. This is explained under the premise that eating and drinking, which are not allowed during daylight hours, could be hard to police, should a student accidentally swallow water from the pool.

One other part of the report sure to cause outrage from concerned parents and administrators is the demand that, while non-Muslim children should learn about Islam, students from Muslim families should have the right to withdraw from any lessons dealing with Christianity of other faiths. The Muslim Council of Britain says this special treatment is necessary to avoid Muslim children from feeling left out of school lessons and activities.