I've spoken to Muslim students forced to pray in corridors, in cupboards, on school fields in the rain. I've spoken to Muslims forced to leave their jobs because they weren't allowed to pray. The Michaela School incident is just one tiny glimpse of societal-wide Islamophobia.
I've spoken to Muslim students forced to pray in corridors, in cupboards, on school fields in the rain. I've spoken to Muslims forced to leave their jobs because they weren't allowed to pray. The Michaela School incident is just one tiny glimpse of societal-wide Islamophobia.
The impact of such strategies that deliberately prevent Muslims from practicing basic tenets of their religion is huge. It leaves young Muslims facing disadvantage and isolation at schools and colleges. It places barriers to Muslims accessing employment and closes off sectors.
It places Muslims as second-class citizens in their own countries. And it fuels anti-Muslim discourses in media and politics that frame Islam as something dangerous, foreign, anti-British; ultimately, poisoning the whole of society.
Education has become another front in the Tory-led culture wars - and the victims are Muslim youth. They experience securitisation under Prevent, racism in the media, and discrimination in education and the workplace. This has been shown to take a huge toll on mental health.
And for what? All so a 'free school' (another Tory attack on equality by Michael Gove) can restrict fundamental freedoms of religion when it comes to Islam. As the pupil says - this has "fundamentally changed" how she feels "about being a Muslim in this country" for the worse.
@mcneilwillson Plenty of Muslims schools believers can go to in the same way there are Christian, Jewish, Hindu schools. If religion your priority you should go to one of those. Non religious people at schools should not be disrupted by religious actions.
@mcneilwillson Tory led culture wars! Tories are very late to the party - been raging for years! Muslim children have benefited from the school, one person wanted to make it an issue! It shows Muslims are not 'other'. A loss would have fueled anti-muslim prejudice as having special treatment.
@mcneilwillson There should be no requirement or prohibition for a student to pray. Secular countries should keep religion out of schools, if someone wants to pray privately, fine. But not as part of the school day. Go to a religious school if prayer is so important to you.