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We do use books that call Jews 'apes' admits head of Islamic school
Last updated at 13:25pm on 07.02.07
Race row: Dr Sumaya Alyusuf
The principal of an Islamic school has admitted that it uses textbooks which describe Jews as "apes" and Christians as "pigs" and has refused to withdraw them.
Dr Sumaya Alyusuf confirmed that the offending books exist after former teacher Colin Cook, 57, alleged that children as young as five are taught from racist materials at the King Fahd Academy in Acton.
In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight, Dr Alyusuf was asked by Jeremy Paxman whether she recognised the books.
She said: "Yes, I do recognise these books, of course. We have these books in our school. These books have good chapters that can be used by the teachers. It depends on the objectives the teacher wants to achieve."
In another exchange, Dr Alyusuf insisted the books should not be scrapped, saying that allegedly racist sections had been "misinterpreted".
The school is owned, funded and run by the government of Saudi Arabia. Mr Paxman asked: "Will you now remove this nonsense from the Saudi Ministry of Education from your school?"
Dr Alyusuf replied: "Just to reiterate what I said earlier, there are chapters from these books that are used and that will serve our objectives. But we don't teach hatred towards Judaism or Christianity - on the contrary."
During the programme Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside and chairman of the Jewish Labour Movement, accused the school of inciting racial hatred and hit out at Ofsted inspectors for failing to discover the textbooks. She said: "This whole situation is unacceptable. It is incitement. It is part of a deliberate Saudi initiative to install Wahabbism extremism among Muslims and in the rest of society. If Ofsted has not drawn attention to this, that is a failing of Ofsted.
"It is unacceptable and we should look to see if this is happening in other schools as well. This is about teaching children. I think the school should take immediate action and so should the regulatory authorities."
In his employment tribunal claim Mr Cook, who taught English at the school for 19 years, has accused it of poisoning pupils' minds with a curriculum of hate. Arabic translators have found that the books also describe Jews as "repugnant".
Dr Alyusuf initially claimed that the books were "not taught currently", saying: "We teach a different curriculum. We teach an international curriculum."
Asked by Mr Paxman, "Would you discipline any teacher who has used these teaching materials?", she replied: "Of course I would."
The principal, who has been in the post just under six months, also claimed: "I monitor what is taught in the classrooms. I have developed the curriculum myself."
Asked by Mr Paxman whether she agreed with the suggestion in teaching materials that non-believers in Islam are condemned to "hellfire", she said: "We don't teach that. We teach Islam and it is important for our students to assert their identity."
Mr Cook, of Feltham, was earning £35,000 a year and is seeking £100,000 in compensation. In legal papers submitted to a Watford employment tribunal, he alleged that pupils as young as five are taught that religions including Christianity and Judaism are "worthless". He also alleges that when he questioned whether the curriculum complied with British laws, he was told: "This is not England. It is Saudi Arabia".
Pupils have allegedly been heard saying they want to "kill Americans", praising 9/11 and idolising Osama bin Laden as their "hero".
Mr Cook claims he was dismissed last December after blowing the whistle on the school for covering up cheating by children in GCSE exams.
He is bringing a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, race discrimination and victimisation. The school is vigorously defending his claims.
Reader views (11)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Why Is a school in Aston, London preaching a religious doctrine that opposes all that our soldiers In Iraq and Afghanistan fighting and dying for? Is this not the start of homegrown terrorism?
- james hunter, Nottignham, Nottinghamshire
This is absurd. I have been a teacher in Makkah, Saudi Arabia and here in the UK for nine years and I had never seen or read such obscenities in any school text. My guess here that this was taken out of context from Biblical stories about God's punishments on people during the pre-Christian era. Other accusations (repugnant Jews and worthless Christianity) can be simply answered in teaching the acceptance of Muslims, Christians and Jews as people of the book and as equal in the eyes of God. This is taught at all levels even in kindergarten. I wish the Saudi school would open translated text to the Ofsted once and for all to stop these accusations since its the easiest thing to believe anything bad about Saudi Arabia especially after the 9/11 disaster.
- Sameer, Newcastle upon tyne, Uk
If this was turned around and a Christian or Jewish school had books like this there would be outrage. I am sick and TIRED of the double standards.
- Emily, USA
I think this is much worse than the Celeb BB racism row. Isn't this illegal?
- Muffinmaker, Bedford, UK
There are laws in this country against racism and religious hatred - I assumed they applied to everybody, am I wrong? So, why is this school still open and why the double standards? Come on, if this is to be a fully intergrated, multi-cultural country, standards should be applied to all, racial and religious hatred should be stamped out with zero tollerance. I suppose Tony Blair is waiting for George W. to tell him what to do?
- Stephen, Enfield, UK
And this is the country for which Teflon Tony went to such lengths to defend in order to ensure our national security, intelligence co-operation and regional interests.
- Mike V, England
I watched the interview on Newsnight. While I think it would have been simplest and best for Dr Alyusuf to say: "While these textbooks contain useful material, I do appreciate that they contain material which could be interpreted as racist and so I will withdraw them." Instead, she claimed that the "apes and pigs" quotes were taken out of context. Unfortunately, she didn't explain what the correct textual context was. (Perhaps the "apes and pigs" were akin to "sheep and goats" in the Bible?) I wish Jeremy Paxman had pressed her to explain the correct textual context. Then, perhaps, viewers would have been able to decide if the textbooks were truly racist or not.
- Richard Hancock, Bracknell, Berkshire
Surely all religions should promote harmony between each other.
- Dennis, Essex
I'm listening, Tony and pals, and can still hear the pin dropping. Why the deathly silence? If a school were to say that Muslims were apes and pigs, you and Ofsted would be down on them like a ton of bricks. Why the double standard on everything?
Could it be, Tony, that the deathly silence is for the same reason as the dropping of the kickback investigation against the Saudis on the British Aerospace deal?
- Phil Jones, London UK
On visiting Saudi Arabia you are strongly advised to (i) don't drink alcohol, (ii) do not bring a bible into the country and (iii) forget looking for facilities for Christian worship. Why do we in the UK have to stand for the three card trick and tolerate this nonsense?
- Roy Gilbert, Solihull, England.
So much for being a tolerant society. It just gets thrown in our faces with increasing regularity. The future looks frightening to me, and I am normally an optimist!
- Geshey, Watford
