Books withdrawn in homophobia row

3rd April 2008
Article courtesy of Press Association

A council has withdrawn books for an anti-homophobia programme at two primary schools following an outcry from predominantly Muslim parents, authorities have said.

Bristol City Council said it temporarily removed books and teaching materials at Easton Primary School and Bannerman Road Community School and Children's Centre so they can "meet their legal responsibilities and operate safely".

The decision to remove the resources was taken on Friday after parents aired their views at meetings held at the two schools.

The materials are mostly storybooks aimed at five to 10-year-olds. One tale which angered the parents featured the story of a king who could not find a suitable woman so he married a prince instead.

Members of Bristol Muslim Cultural Society in Bristol said parents were not outraged by the school's anti-bullying agenda but were frustrated by the lack of consultation offered to parents.

Farooq Siddique, community development officer for Bristol Muslim Cultural Society and a governor at Bannerman Road, said many schoolchildren - 70% of whom are Muslim - were too young to define heterosexuality and homosexuality.

He said: "The agenda was to reduce homophobic bullying, and all the parents said they were not against that side of it, but families were saying to us, 'Our child is coming home and talking about same-sex relationships, when we haven't even talked about heterosexual relationships with them yet'."

Traditional Islamic views condemn homosexuality but there are liberal Muslim movements, such as members of the Al-Fatiha Foundation, dedicated to gay Muslims.

Julia Walton, spokeswoman for Bristol City Council's education department, said: "All Bristol schools have a legal duty to report and deal with homophobic harassment as part of the curriculum since April 2007.

"We are now liaising with community forums in the city, local clerics, teachers' unions, the Institute of Community Cohesion and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure that the topic can be addressed in an inclusive manner in the curriculum."