UK Students Disciplined for
Not Kneeling to Pray to Allah
As soon as the camel’s nose is in the tent, the camel
will follow.
An education
authority is investigating claims that two school pupils were punished for
refusing to kneel down and pray to Allah during a religious education lesson.
Parents complained after the boys, Year 7 (7th Grade) pupils at
Parent Sharon Luinen told the paper:
"This isn't right, it's taking things too far.
"I understand that they have to learn about other religions, I can
live with that, but it is taking it a step too far to be punished because they
wouldn't join in Muslim prayer. Making them pray to
Allah, who isn't who they worship, is wrong and what got me is that they were
told they were being disrespectful."
The school is believed to have received complaints from five sets of
parents since the alleged incident on Tuesday.
Another parent, Karen Williams, said: "I am absolutely furious my
daughter was made to take part in it and I don't find it acceptable. I haven't
got a problem with them teaching my child other religions and a small amount of
information doesn't do any harm.
"But not only did they have to pray, the teacher had gone into the
class and made them watch a short film and then said 'We are now going out to
pray to Allah'. And then two boys got detention and all the other children
missed their refreshments break because of the teacher."
She added: "My child has been forced to pray to Allah in a school
lesson."
The incident is believed to have taken place during a practical
demonstration of how Allah is worshipped.
Cheshire County Council confirmed that parents had complained about the
lesson, and said the circumstances of the incident were to be
"thoroughly" looked into.