The head of Blackburn’s only state girls’ Muslim school pledged his support for an oath of allegiance to be introduced in British schools.
Head of Tauheedul Islamic Girls High School, Mufti Hamid Patel, agrees with former attorney general Lord Goldsmith that encouraging school-leavers to swear an oath of allegiance to Queen and country would give teenagers a sense of belonging.
"I am all for finding ways to transform that into a more collective, community-minded society, and one that celebrates what it has, so I would have no problem with introducing an allegiance pledge,” said Patel.
The government’s suggestion was however widely criticised by other groups as a political gimmick.
"The symbols of a healthy democracy are not to be found in empty gestures,” said Labour peer Baroness Kennedy, “I’m afraid I see this as an empty gesture."
Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said there were better ways to promote citizenship. “People should not feel that being British is about swearing allegiance. It should be about taking an active role in society,” he said.
John Dunford from the Association of School and College leaders called the citizenship ceremonies "a half-baked idea", whilst shadow justice secretary, Nick Herbert, dismissed the idea as “synthetic patriotism”.
Lord Goldsmith’s report on British citizenship, published this week, contains a raft of suggestions to encourage a sense of shared citizenship and national pride.
Other key recommendations include the introduction of a British national day to coincide with the London Olympics in 2012, the creation of a new National Citizens' Corps, providing advice on training and development in citizenship and a reform of Britain's old Treason laws.
Comments (1)
Salaam
Muslim community was and is victim of Paki-bashing in all walks of life by the British society. Now Muslim community is victim of terrorism by the British Establishment. Thousands of Muslim youths are being searched in the streets without any excuse. Hundreds of them are behind the bar with out any trial.
Muslim community is a victim in the name of community cohesion.
Muslim community needs state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models.
Posted by Iftikhar Ahmad | April 6, 2008 4:19 PM
Posted on April 6, 2008 16:19