This was the title of a BBC News article just three days ago. It is already widely known that Blair offered one million pounds to mosques in order to “aid” the training of home grown imams, who need to teach a more modern, British version of Islam. Education authorities are now looking to modernise what kind of Islam is taught at universities also. In order to support their argument a government commissioned report has been carried out.
Academic Ataullah Siddiqui's review paints a picture of Islamic studies departments where the post-9/11 and 7 July world has largely passed them by. It argues that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context.
Ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism".
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the review provided a helpful contribution to a particularly complex and sensitive subject.
"The effective and accurate delivery of Islamic studies within our universities is important for a multitude of reasons including wider community cohesion and preventing violent extremism in the name of Islam," he said.
Furthermore, the research, for BBC News and the BBC Asian Network, also suggests that only 6% of imams in Britain speak English as a first language. Professor Greaves from the University of Chester said
“The imams were "overwhelmingly" qualified in the traditional Islamic curriculum, which he said had changed little since medieval times.”
These reports all seem to lead to one conclusion. Local mosques and university courses are breeding extremism! After all, they are “out dated” and “medieval”. If this were the case then why is it that no “Islamist” attack has ever taken place prior to 7/7 in the UK. Muslims have lived in this country for over 50 years with our foreign imams. Why is the government so concerned now?
It is blatantly obvious. They refuse to acknowledge that their foreign policy has a huge effect on Muslims living in the UK, whether they are born here or not. There have been studies done by the likes of Oxford University that prove this. However, it is not in the governments interests to admit to this fact. As long as we in this country are blinded by the smoke screens of home grown imams then we will not have time to concern ourselves with the illegal wars carried out abroad.
Academic Ataullah Siddiqui's review paints a picture of Islamic studies departments where the post-9/11 and 7 July world has largely passed them by. It argues that more emphasis should be placed on Islam in a modern context.
Ministers will now label Islamic studies a "strategic subject" because of its role "in preventing extremism".
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the review provided a helpful contribution to a particularly complex and sensitive subject.
"The effective and accurate delivery of Islamic studies within our universities is important for a multitude of reasons including wider community cohesion and preventing violent extremism in the name of Islam," he said.
Furthermore, the research, for BBC News and the BBC Asian Network, also suggests that only 6% of imams in Britain speak English as a first language. Professor Greaves from the University of Chester said
“The imams were "overwhelmingly" qualified in the traditional Islamic curriculum, which he said had changed little since medieval times.”
These reports all seem to lead to one conclusion. Local mosques and university courses are breeding extremism! After all, they are “out dated” and “medieval”. If this were the case then why is it that no “Islamist” attack has ever taken place prior to 7/7 in the UK. Muslims have lived in this country for over 50 years with our foreign imams. Why is the government so concerned now?
It is blatantly obvious. They refuse to acknowledge that their foreign policy has a huge effect on Muslims living in the UK, whether they are born here or not. There have been studies done by the likes of Oxford University that prove this. However, it is not in the governments interests to admit to this fact. As long as we in this country are blinded by the smoke screens of home grown imams then we will not have time to concern ourselves with the illegal wars carried out abroad.
1 comment:
Assalaamulikum
I agree with your sentiments, about the goverment ignoring the effect that their forign policy has on the muslim community but as you say only 6% of the Iman in this country have English as their first language, so the Kuthba in the masji will be in their native tounge. What would be your suggestion for the those who have reverted to Islam or the youth who don't know or correctly undersatnd thw langyage of their parents. What would you suggest the solution for this problem. If its the Imans' place to disscuss these issues in the masjid how come there are sins up saying no disscussion about Iraq or Palastine. where is the youth of today supposed to get their guidence from about issues such as these or even little things if they can't go to the "leaders of the community". Is their not a fear that they may go underground or turn to diffrent places for solutions for their problems. I'd like to know what you think.
Salam.
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