A Bradford Islamic faith school has removed links from its website to a site promoting the supremacy of Jihad after the connection was revealed in a report published today.
The report, by independent think tank Civitas, expresses concerns about fundamentalism in Islamic faith schools and uses two Bradford schools as examples.
The report, entitled Music, Chess and Other Sins, cites Feversham College in Undercliffe and al-Mu’min primary school in Manningham as examples of educational establishments promoting a religious fundamentalist agenda.
The report says that the think tank’s main concerns are that some private Muslim schools “are preparing children to live separate lives in Muslim enclaves”.
It goes on to say that some of the schools it studied use an approach resulting from religious fundamentalism.
These schools, the report argues, reject the traditional learning techniques of discussion and argument.
In terms of Feversham College, a state-run secondary school, the report highlights a link from the college’s website to the al-Islam site.
The site has a section dedicated to the “superiority of Jihad”.
The report also states the al-Mu’min primary school website promotes the view that “western culture is evil”, and that playing chess is “like one who dips his hands in the blood of swine”.
The Telegraph & Argus could find no evidence of the claims relating to the al-Mu’min school but the link to the al-Islam site did exist on the Feversham College site until it was removed by the school yesterday.
Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford’s Labour group education spokesman, said: “I would have some concerns about what goes on in some of the new private faith schools but in a school such as Feversham it is part of the state schools system and therefore subject to inspection by Ofsted.
“Any school of one faith should ensure there is a focus on engagement to make sure young people grow up with a broad perspective and I believe that is what we are trying to do.”
Of the website link, Coun Berry said: “If a school is providing a link to a site with intolerant material I would ask for that to be looked into with care and sensitivity but I have never picked up that view about Feversham and do not believe they are pursuing a fundamentalist agenda.”
Councillor David Ward, Liberal democrat group deputy leader and education spokesman, said: “I am not aware of any concerns regarding these schools but any problems which are brought to my attention I will look into.
“The average Muslim person in Bradford would be horrified to find any organisation advocating violent extremism. I am very surprised to hear this suggestion regarding Feversham.”
Regarding the broader issue of faith schools, he said: “There is the potential in any faith school for a particular doctrine to inculcate in the school population. What such schools should attempt to do is educate children about all faiths.”
A spokesman for Feversham College said: “The college website is designed to provide information to existing and prospective students, parents and staff.
“The college subscribes to Bradford Council’s filter system in order to regulate access, and to prevent unauthorized navigation on to sites which could be of a controversial nature.
“Our website pages have for some time had links with other sites which are generally informative. It has been brought to our attention that some of the content now on two of those sites could be misinterpreted. We have therefore reviewed the position and have removed any links to those websites.”
There was no answer when the Telegraph & Argus rang the al-Mu’min school.
Councillor Michael Kelly, Bradford Council’s executive member for young people and children’s services, was also unavailable for comment.
e-mail: paddy.mcguffin@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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