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Militant Islamists given £113k to run schools
Peter Dominiczak26.10.09
Ministers were expected to come under pressure today to investigate why more than £100,000 in government school grants was given to members of an extremist group.
Leading members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, a militant Islamic group that Tony Blair promised to ban after the 7/7 attacks on London, were given £113,411 to provide three schools in Tottenham and Slough.
The public money helped the running of a nursery school and two Islamic primary schools, where children are allegedly taught key elements of the group's ideology from the age of five. The group is regarded as an "organisation of concern" by the Home Office. Tory MP Patrick Mercer, chairman of the parliamentary sub-committee on counter-terrorism, today condemned grants to schools with connections to extremist groups.
Mr Mercer, MP for Newark and Retford, said: "Hizb ut-Tahrir may not be illegal but it has definitely been identified as part of the conveyor-belt to terrorism. That Hizb is involved with vulnerable youngsters is deeply disturbing."
Lib-Dem MP Paul Holmes, a member of the Commons children, schools and families committee, said: "It seems illogical that the Government would give money to a school associated with this type of group. The Government has said Ofsted inspects all schools however, I have not been convinced that the government inspections have been robust enough to prevent schools teaching things which society could be concerned about."
Hizb ut-Tahrir has said British Muslims should "fight assimilation" into British society. The three schools are run by the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation, a registered charity. At least three of the four trustees are Hizb ut-Tahrir members or activists.
A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said local authorities were responsible for ensuring "providers were appropriate".
Reader views (13)
This rather explains the rise of the BNP.
If you stop this kind of rubbish policy and actually deport all non-uk extremists, ie they leave never to return, then you might just stop the BNP propaganda and their increasing numbers of voters.
- June, Kent
Vince, London - Gordon Brown and Labour. Why? who knows, they seem hell bent on destroying this country before they are kicked out of office...
- Zady, London
S.H.U.T Them Down N.O.W. Just how stupid has the UK become?
Another example of actions against the best interests of the majority implemented by an anonymous, faceless, nameless government employee with an invisible agenda.
Please explain this sum of money to our under-resourced troops. Then move on to the parents of those soldiers who lost their lives trying to prevent the very culture that this is funding.
You are becoming the laughing stock of the world
- Mark Day, victoria canada
This is disgusting. Why should tax payers fund socalled religious/terrorist suspect schools ?
We want to be rid of such things not encourage them.
- Michael, London, UK
may be great is gone to dogs from great britian......the present politicians are spineless corrupt bunch, may be already in the pockets of the terrorists or else they are too scared and hence given the money
- Bipin, london
I am SICK of hearing these stories. Why oh why doesn't the Government withdraw such funding - monitor them at random, then - if appropriate - close these dangerous establishments down.
If we were to emmigrate to one of the established Islamic states, we would not be free to foster dissent in the country or have them fund our campaigns to introduce the open sale of alcohol. No, we would have to accept their culture and their rules, as many British citizens have already found to their cost.
Don't apply to live in another's country then force them to change their way of life to suit you. It's disrepectful, incites racial hatred, and does not endear you to your hosts!
- Kh, Nottingham, UK
I DEMAND to know WHY and WHO by.
- Vince London, West London
we are completely doomed and we have done it to ourselves. What a weak bunch the British are.
- Jules_London, london
This is what you call the appeasement of the muslim community.Sure NuLiebore running scare.Isn't there an Englih say"easy one easy go" who cares?
- Surj, london
The general population for a long time have been very much aware of extremists being funded to run anti British schools, establishments and institutions in this country. Some who have or have attempted to blow us up have work for 'charitable' organisations.
Political hate preachers may not be on the streets so apparently anymore, but they're still there, pumping their congregations heads full of disaffection and hatred. It took this government a long time to see that a gagged and furious public have been driven towards the likes of the equally despicable BNP. The present government are surprised at this, seem even to have been caught unawares. Equally, they have no idea of their culpability in having created divide and dissent among the British people. They've left this nation a far, far worse place than when they arrived to take office. That was indeed a black day for Britain.
- Geoffrey, London
Pandering to fascist groups like Hizb ut-Tahrir has to stop - the damage such a group can do through influencing vulnerable children at school is incalculable.
- Derek, London
"Hizb ut-Tahrir has said British Muslims should "fight assimilation" into British society. The three schools are run by the Islamic Shakhsiyah Foundation, a registered charity. At least three of the four trustees are Hizb ut-Tahrir members or activists."
So now Labour are giving our money to people who don't want to be part of the British way of life? And this organisation gets charitable status?
More political bribery I think.
- William B, SW London, UK
Labour running scared.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
