Muslim schools help to strengthen community cohesion, not undermineit.
Native children need citizenship education as well as Islamic educationbecause they have no respect and are reluctant to tolerate those who aredifferent.
Government figures revealed the number of pupils suspended from schoolsfor racist abuse rose nearly one-third in a year. Schools are reluctantto report racist bullying because they do not want to gain areputation.
The negative attitude towards Islam in the West has a very long historyand is palpable at the moment. Islamophobia is alive and well.
It is mainstream Britain that needs to integrate more with the Muslimway of life, not the other way round. One can learn hospitality,tolerance and generosity from Muslims.
Islam isn't the sickness. It is the cure. Children need to be taught todistinguish between right and wrong.
Iftikhar Ahmad, London School of Islamics
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