{UAH} ANGER MOUNTS OVER IMPOSITION OF MUSLIM HALAL DIET IN HARROW SCHOOLS

Political pressure is building up in the London Borough of Harrow as
it battles to provide a schools policy acceptable to all religious
groups for its primary schools. A few weeks ago, the Mayor rejected
demands by Muslim parents to remove pork from school menue, but in
what is considered to be a concession to muslims, the Council agreed
to provide Hala-only food in its menu. This has caused constrenation
and deep anger amongst other religious groups, especially Chritians,
Sikks and Hindus, who view the policy as a creeping Islamisation of
their schools. Some parents are threatening to withdraw their children
from schools for fear of Islamisation, while other are threatening to
go on hunger strike. The central government may have to intervene.

Bobby


Harrow Interfaith Council hits out over halal school meals as hunger
strikes are threatened

PRESSURE is mounting over halal-only menus in schools with a planned
hunger strike and threats of parents withdrawing their children.

Harrow Interfaith Council became the latest organisation to criticise
the policy as pupils returned from their summer holidays this week.

Chairman Reverend Tim Gosden said some mothers and fathers had
discussed the possibility of removing their children from schools in
the borough.

Sikh representative Paramjit Singh Kohli said two parents had told him
they would go on hunger strike outside one of the borough's secondary
schools if there was no change within two weeks.

He said: "I'd say to parents take your kids out of school. But that's
the second option, the first option is to make sure there is another
meat option on the menu."

Harrow Council says it will review plans to provide halal-only meat in
primary schools, but insists fish and vegetarian dishes are always
offered and pupils can bring packed lunches to school if they do not
want to eat from the menu provided.

However Mr Kohli said: "Fish and vegetarian dishes are not the
alternative, the alternative is non-halal meat. Those dishes are for
the people who are vegetarian and vegan."

Even the Muslim community has not backed the decision.

Ghulam Rabbani, general secretary of Harrow Central Mosque, said: "I
welcome the fact they serve halal meat. They should also take account
of all the religions, not just Muslims.

"Halal I think is our right, but if it is halal-only people might
think they are doing a favour for Muslims."

Rev Gosden said in a letter to the Harrow Times he feared the policy
might attract unwanted attention from anti-Islamic groups like Stop
the Islamisication of Europe (SIOE) and lead to racial tensions in the
borough.

The group staged two protests outside Harrow Central Mosque against
the religious institution's new building last year.

A statement put out by the authority on Friday, August 6, insisted:
"The use of halal meat is common practice across London in many
schools, public organisations and indeed restaurants, because of the
need to provide segregated meat preparation.

"However, there is a choice of menu every day and frequently there is
a fish, as well as a vegetarian choice."

The council declined to add to its statement.

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