Republic of Ireland: Islamic dress code should be accommodated in schools – group

Having got what looked to most people like Ireland’s first lone wolf jihad attack immediately declared “nothing to do with terrorism”, and having implored the Catholics of Ireland not to blame Islam for terror (which the attack was nothing to do with, you MUST understand this…) the Irish Muslim Board has issued some of their requirements for happier and expeditious islamisation of the Republic. From the Irish Times

A Muslim campaign group says school uniforms should accommodate Islamic dress codes by allowing girls to wear full-length skirts, long-sleeved shirts and headscarves. The Irish Muslim Board has also called for school uniforms which have crucifix symbols or images of saints to be made optional in the interests of creating greater inclusivity.

The recommendations are contained in the board’s submission to a Department of Education consultation process over school admission policies. The group, chaired by Dr Ali Selim, was formed in 2016 to encourage Muslims to become more politically active.

In its submission, the group says Muslim children can feel alienated at school, particularly in activities that revolve around Christmas such as nativity plays and carol services.

It recommends that schools should take greater steps to include Muslims, such as accommodating the “Islamic religiously mandated code of dressing, deemed to be an essential component of their Muslim identity. . . Muslim girls should be allowed to wear full-length loose school skirts or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a headscarf to cover their hair. Schools have the right to specify the colour and the style of scarf for reasons of uniformity . . .”

It adds that school uniforms which have the crucifix symbol or other religious symbolism should be made optional. . . school assemblies in faith-based schools could be made more inclusive by recognising aspects of the Muslim faith. For example, schools could introduce Ramadan-based themes at assembly such as a communal breaking of the fast,

In a separate submission, the Muslim Primary Education Board – which represents Dublin’s two Muslim primary schools – says parents were finding it increasingly difficult to secure school places for their children at second level. It says anecdotal evidence indicates that the “Baptism barrier” is adding to these difficulties.

“While it has been stated that the number of children refused because of lack of baptismal certificate is small . . . this does not take into account the parents who do not apply for admission into schools that they know may ask for a certificate. “The situation at present is that the majority of schools in Ireland have a Catholic ethos, leaving Muslim children at the mercy of these admission policies…”

I recognise the drip – drip – drip …