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ISLAM FOR SCHOOLS
Steve Hammond4/ 5/2004
A MAJOR initiative to counter anti-Muslim propaganda is to be
launched in Greater Manchester schools.
Teachers will be receiving packs containing books, CDs and posters
explaining the culture and principles of Islam in a positive
light.
For older children more controversial issues like jihad and suicide
bombings will be covered.
The scheme, launched by the Muslim Council of Britain, and backed
by the education chiefs throughout Greater Manchester, will also
tackle controversial topics like the war on terror.
At a recent fund-raising dinner in Manchester £28,000 was collected
for the campaign, enough to buy over 100 teaching packs enough to
supply half the schools in the city.
Dr Sangeeta Dhami is a leading organiser of the Books 4 Schools
campaign.
She said the material was principally aimed at white non-Muslim
children who may have picked-up prejudiced views on Islam from the
media.
"We are trying to get away from things like ritual and the five
pillars of Islam to look at common principles that bind Islam to
humanity and other religions.
"For example one of our posters has the names of the prophets
including Jesus who of course is an important figure for Christians
but who is also an important Muslim prophet.
"In the secondary schools, the packs we will be tackling more
recent and controversial issues like what is jihad.
"Jihad means struggle but not necessarily a violent struggle. It
can mean the struggle for tolerance and freedom.
"We will be leaving issues like suicide bombing up for discussion
to encourage pupils, having heard about the general principles of
Islam and jihad, to discuss and decide for themselves whether
suicide bombers are carrying out their principles of jihad."
Manchester education chief Mike Waters, who was at the launch of
the campaign, has given it his backing.
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