Sir, Whilst I do not agree with much of the education policy of this Government, I am a Labour Councillor, I do agree that all those providing any type of education should be registered. This has nothing to do with any particular type of school, it is simply a matter of safeguarding all pupils, no matter where they are educated.
I do agree that the rhetoric of this present Government is most unhelpful and some groups in our society do feel discriminated against. However, that is a separate issue, though I understand the link you make, I don’t think it is intended to relate to any one type of school in particular, or it shouldn’t. There are lots of organisations offering out of school education, both religious and secular and the same law should apply to all. I sincerely hope that the Government will treat all out of school provision with fairness and equality.
Yours
Anne Hutton
London Borough of Barnet
Sir, How can our Government get away with it by interfering in religion [they mean Islam] in a democracy (The Muslim News January 29)? I would understand if we were a dictatorship where the regimes want to control and interfere in every aspect of people’s lives.
It seems, since 9/11 and more so since 7/7, our governments do not care about rights of Muslims. Muslims are treated as the ‘other’, not as equal citizens. As Prime Minister, David Cameron, said UK is Christian country, so only Christians’ rights are protected. This protection has been extended to other minority faiths except Muslims.
Yours
Sarah Choudhury
Birmingham