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Against the Imposition of Statutory SRE
Result:
Assalamu alaykum and greetings to our many supporters from other faith communities,
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
This is the final regular campaign update you will receive from us. As you will all know the consultation into statutory Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in state schools has ended and we handed in a 22,000 signature petition evidencing Muslim community concerns with the plans. We would not have been able to get this far without your support and in the final week alone we received 3,000 signatures.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency submitted their report on Wednesday 30th September, this captures the views expressed in the publication consultation. Next, the Department of Children Schools and Families will decide whether SRE will be made statutory, from what age, whether the existing parental right to an opt-out will be maintained or withdrawn and what role governing bodies will still have in drawing up the school’s SRE policy. If fundamental changes are made, this will require a change in the law, which means passage of a government bill through parliament. When any changes are announced we will let you know.
RECOGNITION OF SUPPORT
We would also like to thank and pray for the following individuals & organisations that have helped us throughout the length of the campaign.
Association of Muslim Governors, Brother Mizan Raja
Nida Trust, Brother Babar Mirza and Brother Foezul Ali
Shaykh Haitham al-Haddad
Mufti Sadruddin & Maulana Shah Muhammad Anas, Jam’iatul Ulama UK
Shaykh Abdul Qayyum and Dilowar Hussein Khan, East London Mosque
Maulana Shamsul Haque, Tower Hamlets Council of Mosques
Brother Yusuf Hansa and Shaykh Suhaib Hasan, Waltham Forest Council of Mosques
Shaykh Suliman Ghani, Tooting Islamic Centre
Brother Dawud Juneja and Sadiq Khotia, An-Noor Primary School
Brother Ghazanfar Ali, Ilford Islamic Centre
Brother Ishtiaq, Minhaj al-Quran, Forest Gate
Brother Abdul Karim Khalil and Brother Yusef Noden, Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
Brother Wahid Ali, Milton Keynes Islamic Society
Brother Mohsin Malik and Brother Shoaib Rahim, Luton
Brother Anas, Southamton
Brother Majed Iqbal, Rochdale
Brother Nasir Hanif, Bradford
Brother Mohammed Nawaz, Sheffield
Dr Nazir Ahmed, Best Tutors, London
Sister Iman, North London
Parents at Gatton School, South London
Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are many more individuals whose tireless efforts to protect the Islamic identity of our children will be recorded as deeds our creator will reward.
POST-CAMPAIGN WORK
Although the campaign is over, there is still a lot of work to do and your continued support is sought.
Over the next few months we will do the following:
1) Continue to raise awareness about SRE in state schools and support cimmunities to prepare for the possibility of compulsory SRE.
§ We will continue to raise awareness through our seminars.
§ We will soon be launching a fully fledged website, which will reflect the transition from campaign to supporting communities to prepare for the potential changes.
Just before Ramadan, we delivered presentations in Crawley, Milton Keynes and Watford.
During Ramadan we appeared on Leicester, Slough, Luton and Reading Ramadan Radio stations.
2) Our main focus will be to formulate an alternative Islamic framework that lays down clearly what is acceptable at each age and how different discussions can be approached with children. We will work with a number of ulema (scholars) to ensure this framework is Islamically accurate and then draw up a guidance document for parents as well as materials that can be delivered in a classroom setting.
We have a list of ulema we are currently approaching, if you have any suggestions of ulema that could help please do get in touch.
FUNDRAISING
Throughout this campaign, we have sought to keep costs down and raise small amounts to cover basic costs. We have always paid for our own travel costs and never undertook mass fundraising partly because we wanted to keep costs down and secondly because we did not want to deflect from the campaign. We are now looking to raise funds to cover some of the costs of our campaign, including the printing costs of our campaign report, funds to produce alternative SRE materials and a website that to inform and advise as well as provide downloadle resources for parents, governors and schools. If you are able to contribute please do contact us.
If you could provide us with any help in any of these tasks, please do get in touch.
Yusuf Patel
SREIslamic
http://sreislamic.wordpress.com
sreislamic@btinternet.com
07883027067
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
This is the final regular campaign update you will receive from us. As you will all know the consultation into statutory Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in state schools has ended and we handed in a 22,000 signature petition evidencing Muslim community concerns with the plans. We would not have been able to get this far without your support and in the final week alone we received 3,000 signatures.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency submitted their report on Wednesday 30th September, this captures the views expressed in the publication consultation. Next, the Department of Children Schools and Families will decide whether SRE will be made statutory, from what age, whether the existing parental right to an opt-out will be maintained or withdrawn and what role governing bodies will still have in drawing up the school’s SRE policy. If fundamental changes are made, this will require a change in the law, which means passage of a government bill through parliament. When any changes are announced we will let you know.
RECOGNITION OF SUPPORT
We would also like to thank and pray for the following individuals & organisations that have helped us throughout the length of the campaign.
Association of Muslim Governors, Brother Mizan Raja
Nida Trust, Brother Babar Mirza and Brother Foezul Ali
Shaykh Haitham al-Haddad
Mufti Sadruddin & Maulana Shah Muhammad Anas, Jam’iatul Ulama UK
Shaykh Abdul Qayyum and Dilowar Hussein Khan, East London Mosque
Maulana Shamsul Haque, Tower Hamlets Council of Mosques
Brother Yusuf Hansa and Shaykh Suhaib Hasan, Waltham Forest Council of Mosques
Shaykh Suliman Ghani, Tooting Islamic Centre
Brother Dawud Juneja and Sadiq Khotia, An-Noor Primary School
Brother Ghazanfar Ali, Ilford Islamic Centre
Brother Ishtiaq, Minhaj al-Quran, Forest Gate
Brother Abdul Karim Khalil and Brother Yusef Noden, Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
Brother Wahid Ali, Milton Keynes Islamic Society
Brother Mohsin Malik and Brother Shoaib Rahim, Luton
Brother Anas, Southamton
Brother Majed Iqbal, Rochdale
Brother Nasir Hanif, Bradford
Brother Mohammed Nawaz, Sheffield
Dr Nazir Ahmed, Best Tutors, London
Sister Iman, North London
Parents at Gatton School, South London
Federation of Redbridge Muslim Organisations
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are many more individuals whose tireless efforts to protect the Islamic identity of our children will be recorded as deeds our creator will reward.
POST-CAMPAIGN WORK
Although the campaign is over, there is still a lot of work to do and your continued support is sought.
Over the next few months we will do the following:
1) Continue to raise awareness about SRE in state schools and support cimmunities to prepare for the possibility of compulsory SRE.
§ We will continue to raise awareness through our seminars.
§ We will soon be launching a fully fledged website, which will reflect the transition from campaign to supporting communities to prepare for the potential changes.
Just before Ramadan, we delivered presentations in Crawley, Milton Keynes and Watford.
During Ramadan we appeared on Leicester, Slough, Luton and Reading Ramadan Radio stations.
2) Our main focus will be to formulate an alternative Islamic framework that lays down clearly what is acceptable at each age and how different discussions can be approached with children. We will work with a number of ulema (scholars) to ensure this framework is Islamically accurate and then draw up a guidance document for parents as well as materials that can be delivered in a classroom setting.
We have a list of ulema we are currently approaching, if you have any suggestions of ulema that could help please do get in touch.
FUNDRAISING
Throughout this campaign, we have sought to keep costs down and raise small amounts to cover basic costs. We have always paid for our own travel costs and never undertook mass fundraising partly because we wanted to keep costs down and secondly because we did not want to deflect from the campaign. We are now looking to raise funds to cover some of the costs of our campaign, including the printing costs of our campaign report, funds to produce alternative SRE materials and a website that to inform and advise as well as provide downloadle resources for parents, governors and schools. If you are able to contribute please do contact us.
If you could provide us with any help in any of these tasks, please do get in touch.
Yusuf Patel
SREIslamic
http://sreislamic.wordpress.com
sreislamic@btinternet.com
07883027067
We the undersigned respond with dismay at the plans to make SRE (Sex & Relationship Education) statutory from the age of five.
We believe:
1. It is the responsibility of parents and not schools to impart SRE advice and guidance to children.
2. SRE must be based on Islamic teachings that prohibit relationships outside of marriage and thereby reinforcing the primacy of marriage.
3. Our chief concern as Muslims parents is to maintain the Islamic identity of our children.
We therefore demand:
· The right of parents to withdraw their children from SRE classes if they so wish.
· A wide reaching consultation process that includes the views of the Muslim community.
· The devolving of power to governing bodies to allow them the flexibility to take account of childrens’ needs in keeping with their Islamic identity.
We believe:
1. It is the responsibility of parents and not schools to impart SRE advice and guidance to children.
2. SRE must be based on Islamic teachings that prohibit relationships outside of marriage and thereby reinforcing the primacy of marriage.
3. Our chief concern as Muslims parents is to maintain the Islamic identity of our children.
We therefore demand:
· The right of parents to withdraw their children from SRE classes if they so wish.
· A wide reaching consultation process that includes the views of the Muslim community.
· The devolving of power to governing bodies to allow them the flexibility to take account of childrens’ needs in keeping with their Islamic identity.
This petition is now closed.
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