The Scottish government has given £215,000 to the "Scottish Islamic Foundation", a new group set up by Osama Saeed, a former spokesman for the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), the British wing of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Scotland On Sunday reported yesterday that the group has received £200,000 to hold "Islamfest", an Islamic event in Glasgow, along with an additional £10,152 for computers and office equipment and £5,600 for administration and training.
However, the newspaper also reported that the grant "has infuriated senior members of the Muslim community", including members of larger and longer-established Islamic organisations.
Several said that Saeed's group had little influence in the Muslim community. Adil Bhatti, said: "The people from the Muslim community, they do not know about this organisation. It is not supported by the majority."
On the launch of Saeed's group by Alex Salmond last month, Amanullah de Sondy, a lecturer in Divinity at Glasgow University, also wrote on his blog that the group "will further [reinforce] isolationist approaches to education and hamper attempts at building bridges between Muslims and non-Muslims. I have nothing against the SIF... but they are not representative of a 'Muslim community'."
Significantly, Osama Saeed spent the weekend not in Scotland but in London, speaking at IslamExpo, an event dominated by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and members of the Muslim Association of Britain, for whom Saeed was formerly a spokesman.
During IslamExpo, whose events were attended and recorded by CSC staff, he was frequently seen conferring with Anas al-Tikriti, the main organiser of the event who is another former member of the Muslim Association of Britain.
A CSC briefing on the links between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Scottish Islamic Foundation is available here.
Comments (7)
THe problem with all faith schools - muslim, catholic, or FSM - is that they seek to indoctrinate children with an ideaology, rather than let them discover for themselves
Posted by Tobias the pious | September 21, 2008 6:04 PM
Posted on September 21, 2008 18:04
I believe SIF must have submitted an ambitious business plan to convince the Scottish Executive for funding. It might be true that the organisation is not yet known in the wider community but the management team has set a precident example to work for the benefit of the Muslim Community. Others who declare themselves to be the Muslim Community representative organisations, they must need to organise their intellectuals to develop innovative projects and to convice the Scottish Executive for funding rather to promote any negativity about the SIF.
Posted by Dr. Iqbal Anwar | September 15, 2008 8:49 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 20:49
Osama Saeed putting a bit of stick about
Rolled-up Trousers | Main | The purpose of education - maximising potential »
Before you abolish Catholic schools...
...why not get rid of Rangers and Celtic?
In Scotland, you don't need much of an excuse to attack faith schools. What has struck me for ages though is that while many bemoan how our kids are apparently living parallel lives, no one really gets to what's at the heart of it. It's not schools, it's football.
Kids are always going to go to different schools. In my town there were three - two non-denominational/Protestant, one Catholic. We didn't like the other non-denom (young people are territorial about these things), but the other school was different. It wasn't that we questioned their religious practices, or deplored the fact that they didn't have as direct a relationship with God as us. It's just they supported Celtic.
Let's not forget the history of the Old Firm. Rangers had a policy of not having Catholic players till as late as 1989, when fans burned their scarves in the streets in protest at the Mo Johnston signing. Celtic were brought into existence in order to give Catholics in Glasgow a chance to play.
Much of any sectarian tension in the West of Scotland would be diffused by the dissipation of this rivalry. If people are serious about societal changes in order to get rid of this scourge, there would be no better cure than merging Rangers and Celtic. Make them play in turquoise or blue and green stripes, move them to Hampden, and rename them Glasgow United
Posted by Frank J Dougan | September 3, 2008 11:20 PM
Posted on September 3, 2008 23:20
We need your info ...how to get moslems fund to built an islamic centre or islamic boarding school
Posted by kailani umar | July 27, 2008 11:46 AM
Posted on July 27, 2008 11:46
When are people going to vote against the idiots in power, no wonder more and more people are leaving the UK for a better life abroad, I don't want to bring my kids up in this country the way it is now. This is not what we fought the war for. Enough is Enough.
Posted by david | July 16, 2008 11:24 AM
Posted on July 16, 2008 11:24
Shocking isn't it - Scotland used to be a great country now it's dying on its arse due to the ones who just want to bleed it dry. These guys are Muslim 1st, Pakistani 2nd and Scottish 3rd - Its time to weake up before its too late
Posted by Gerry | July 15, 2008 7:29 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 19:29
Disgusting. I wonder how many people as they walk, drive, or ride to work think about how their hard-earned money is going to these people, in order for them to teach their kids to blow up their kids in the future. (not to mention paying for the ones who have multiple wives and 30 kids and no job!)
Posted by Stephanie | July 15, 2008 2:54 PM
Posted on July 15, 2008 14:54