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May 21, 2006

UK: Muslim Scout Groups Choose Segregation

Today's Sunday Times reports that in Scotland, there are now plans to set up Islamic Scout groups. According to the Islamic Society of Britain, Islamic Scout groups are necessary because some Muslim parents are not "comfortable" with the existing Scout movement which is seen as predominantly Christian.

For 30 years, Muslim children have been allowed to be part of the Scout Association, but as always, Muslims want to have special status. Already there are about 20 Muslim scout groups in England. In March this year, the first Muslim scout group in Wales was opened, based in Roath Park Community Centre in Cardiff, and named the 1st Cathays al Huda.

The Welsh group's leader, Salah Aboulgasem, said: "If [the parents] know they are with other Muslims who can understand them and treat them better - and suit their needs - then they will be more than happy to bring them along."

Not appreciating the irony of what he was saying, Aboulgasem told BBC radio: "There's a lack of integration with Muslims in wider society and scouting is the most successful, longest-running youth organisation in the world." So he sets up a group to further segregate Muslim children from others.

The Scout movement was formed by Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, and will soon be reaching its centenary. Now the movement has more than 26 million members worldwide, and almost a third of the members are Muslims. In the UK, the scout movement is committed to co-education, with boys and girls meeting the aims of scouting through one programme.

But for the Islamic Society of Britain, the aims of the Scout movement as it stands is not enough. Islam has to be stamped on everything that the scouts participate in. A quick look at their website will show their agenda, which is: "The fundamentals of ISB Scouting will be to re-inforce the beliefs and practices of Islam. By following the Scout Promise and Law, through the Progressive Training Scheme, it is intended that Muslim children will meet the responsibilities that Islam places upon them."

There are plans to found Scout groups in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen in the near future. The man behind Scottish Muslim Scout groups is Sajid Quayum, who justified the segrationist groups by saying: "Having our own groups will give us the flexibility to include Muslim values and teachings as well as general Scouting values." Quayum is no stranger to segregationist projects - he set up a Muslim radio station (Radio Ramadan) in Glasgow in 2003. He says, like other Muslim Scout groups in England, that youngsters from other faiths will be welcome in Muslim scout groups.

Member of the Scottish Parliament Sandra White criticised the segregationism of starting Muslim Scout groups in Scotland, saying: "In some areas of Glasgow we have gangs of Asian and white youths who never seem to meet together. I want to see young people being integrated, not separated, and the idea of dividing people on religious lines does concern me."

Labour MP for Govan, Mohammed Sarwar said: "Having young people of all faiths together in the same group is the ideal situation. It is the best way to improve race relations and to build multicultural harmony."

One individual who has set up an Islamic Scout group in Britain is Abdullah Mussa (pictured above). Born in Britain, Mussa set up the Birmingham Muslim Scouts group. He said last year: "I am 100 per cent Muslim and I believe I am 100 per cent British as I grew up in Scotland and now live in England. I believe it is my duty as a Muslim to enjoy being good and forbid evil. Everyone can do their part to make the world a better place."

"I am currently working in a team developing Muslim scouts in the UK. I see this as a small effort but with big results for the future. For people who have gone through scouting they claim this is an essential part of the development of a well-rounded individual, as it teaches all the skills schools fail to teach. I believe currently some of the Muslim population in Britain are deprived of this and this can lead to close-mindedness and bad social skills."

"Scouting addresses this problem and we help to develop young people in a well-rounded socially creative way. This helps them to be better individuals and put back into society. At the same time Muslim scouts are taught with a Muslim ethos and are proud of their faith. Our children are the only way we can work towards a better future are to change things here and now."

He too said that in his Birmingham group, children of other faiths will be welcomed, but it appears his agenda is to promote and indoctrinate with Islamic ideals.

In January 22-year old Mussa led a group of 25 Muslim scouts from various parts of Britain to Saudi Arabia, to partake of the Hajj. None of the boys had to pay a penny, because the trip was funded by the Saudi Royal family.

One wonders who is funding the Islamic Society of Britain and its plans to establish more segregationist Muslim Scout groups in the UK.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at May 21, 2006 7:36 PM

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