British Expatriate Network

Muslim Ghettoisation
We live in a shrunken world and millions of people are on the move; one of our biggest challenges is how we learn to live in proximity to difference – different skin colours, different beliefs and different way of life. According to a study by COMPAS, Muslims born and educated were given the impression of outsiders. The perception among Muslims is that they are unwelcome in Britain is undermining efforts to help them integrate into wider society. Most of them say that they have experienced race discrimination and religious prejudice. Muslims and Islam is promoted a fundamentalist and separatist by the western elite, which have negative impact on community and social cohesion. The number of racist incidents occurring in London Borough of Redbridge’s schools have reached their highest levels since record begin.

A City or a locality, where Muslims are in majority is a ghetto. There is a tendency for people of similar backgrounds to live together in neighourhoods. The term”ghettoisation” is inappropriate. The original ghettos in Europe during the middle ages were set up by law to confine the Jewish population to one area of a city. According to a research by an Australian academic that Muslim communities in Britain are being increasingly ghettoized in a trend that set back hopes of assimilation by years. Britain has now eight cities in the top 100 most ghettoized cities. The people from the Pakistani community in Bradford and Oldham and Leicester had trebled during the decade. A report by an academic Dr Alan Carling, that Bradford risks becoming a front line in the global clash between the West and Islam. But Islam and Muslims do not clash with the concepts of pluralism, secularism and globalisation. The native flight from Bradford’s inner-city wards showed clear evidence of an increase in segregation in the city since 1991. Native parents are avoiding sending their children in state schools where Muslims and other minorities are in majority. The dominance of Pakistani Muslims in the city has meant that Bradford has become bi-cultural.

Immigrants are the creators of Britain new wealth, otherwise, inner cities deprived areas could not get new lease of life. The native Brits regard such areas as ghettoes. Integration is not religious and cultural, it is economic and Muslims are well integrated into British society and at the same time they are proud of their Islamic, linguistic and cultural identities, inspite of discrimination they have been facing in all walks of life. According to UN, 80% of British Muslims feel discriminated. They are less burden on social services. Immigrants made up 8.7% of the population, but accounted for10.2% of all collected income tax

It is often quoted by the Western media that Muslim schools ghettoizse the children, and even lead to their radicalisation if they are not integrated. There is no evidence that faith schools lead to a “ghettoized education system. In British schools, pupils are encouraged to focus too much on their similarities rather than their differences. The integrationist approach merely results in Muslims feeling that their faith, language and culture is not respected.
Iftikhar Ahmad
http://www.londonschoolofislamics.org.uk

Its a damn shame that Religon has to play any part at all in the British school system. Once they sort that out the education system can get back on track.

I agree. The so-called belief in some metaphysical entity makes one either a liar or a fool. Secondly, to then try and inculcate children to believe in such nonsense is abuse. Suffice to say, schools should not be abusing children, thus, religious dogma should not be taught in our schools.

And that's the end of it!

Whether or not you choose to believe in a "higher metaphysical being" is really irrelevant to the discussion of whether religion should be taught in schools. I am not talking about whether or not children are expected to practice religion in school, but rather whether they should be taught about the various religious views of the world in the realm of Religious Education. The fact is most of the world still chooses to hold such beliefs and therefore religion continues to effect our lives.

If you don't teach religion in schools then much of history will not be understood, much of the current affairs of the world will not be understood and children will be destined to follow the belief system of their parents instead of choosing their own way in the world. At best this will lead to a continuation of the status quo and at worst to a repetition of history.

To respond to the OP's comments on so called muslim ghettoisation; to a certain extent they only have themselves to blame. They choose to live in communities together and often times choose not to integrate into their adoptive country. I had a friend at university of Pakastani heritage, he had lived in London with his mother since he was a small child - after being in the country for over 15 years his mother could barely answer the phone in English and had to rely on others to translate for her when she had to interact with english speakers. This kind of attitude on her part (and many in her community) is what has created the hostility of many of the natives. Is it a right that the younger generations are paying for their parent's mistakes? Probably not. But you can't erase a generation of attitudes and behaviour over night.

Become part of the country you live in and you will be accepted. Refuse to adopt the traditions and culture of your new home and you will continue to be ostracized.

Most of the western world know that the extreme elements of the Muslim faith are in the minority, just as the neo-nazis are a minority group among the white populations of the world. But the fact remains that some of the worst offenders against human rights are Muslim countries and many of those are run along religious lines. Is it any wonder that many people view Muslims negatively? Work within your own communities to deal with some of these issues before you try and tell us what is wrong with ours.

Excellant post fair and balanced