So the BBC Panorama’s John Ware finds “Muslim Extremists” running schools and takes the evidence to Michael Gove, Education Secretary. Policy Exchange, the think tank also reports on the same thing as reported by Andrew Gilligan. The ex-chairman of Policy Exchange is…….Michael Gove.
John Ware is a despicable individual with a long and proven track record of Islamophobic hate statements.
Another Panorama report by Ware, entitled “Faith, Hate and Charity” sought to discredit Interpal, a British charity that provides relief and development aid to Palestinians in need. The documentary was criticised for, among other things, an over-reliance on partisan Israeli and American sources.
The right wing think tank Policy Exchange’s reason for being is to serve as another divisive unit, attempting to drive a wedge between British Muslims and the rest of society.
Before Nick Clegg sold out his principles, he blasted that Policy Exchange directors of “bizarre and underhand behaviour”, and questioned the validity of their “evidence”.
The Akh is pleased to see organisations other than the Muslim Public Affairs Committee taking up the media jihad.
Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) issued a notable press release.
Engage also had a piece on this topic, showing how several media outlets, including the Daily Mail, the Metro and the Daily Star acting as a force multiplier by re-reporting on this latest Panorama programme.
Muslim organisations have to learn how to defend themselves and their much maligned communities. By understanding the modus operandi of the how the political system works and is influenced by the media and think tanks alike is a vital and necessary first step in grasping the insidious nature of the game being played against Muslims.
hotterthanapileofcurry.wordpress.com 
I’m confused. I totally agree that we shouldn’t allow Islamaphobia to occur. I get tired of regularly having to defend my faith to ill-informed people, like anyone else. However I’m not sure that this programme is really evidence of promoting that worrying phenomenon. It might contribute to it, if people didn’t watch the programme properly, but the agenda was not quite as you suggest.
Panorama started with praise for most Muslim schools, showing Al-Furqan as an example of what most schools are doing right. To show that 5,000 British children are attending classes where they are encouraged to despise Jewish people and homosexuals is important work. This should not happen. Of course they use dramatic imagery and music – this is television!
I am a secondary school teacher. I’ve worked in both Muslim faith schools and secular British schools. While the faith schools did not tolerate any of the isolationist practices highlighted in the programme, the pupils there often lived in a bubble, with very little interaction with the greater society. When I told my students that most of my friends weren’t Muslim, because I have friends from many different faiths and ethnicities, they were shocked. They shouldn’t be! We live in a country where Muslims represent a small proportion of the population, so naturally we should have entourages of various beliefs.
My parents chose to bring me up in this country, because we could have a better life here than in their homelands. I feel very lucky for the opportunities that decision has afforded me. As a result, I think that any preachers who criticise Western values and yet enjoy the benefits of this country are extremely disrespectful. Undoubtedly British society has its problems, but I’d rather live here than anywhere else. Nobody in the position of educator, whether it be at a weekend or after-school class, should be exposed to the language of hatred of the other. How can we possibly cry about Islamaphobia when we refuse to acknowledge that some of our own community’s role models are xenophobic themselves?
I urge you to watch the programme again and to realise that it raises issues we need to face. Instead of being defensive, this should wake us up. Yes, these negative elements are in the minority, but they are still there. Just as I would advocate battling the doctrines of the BNP, so I think we need to face our own demons.
On a similar note,
http://www.zaufishan.co.uk/2010/11/dear-bbc-dont-blame-muslim-schools-for.html