MINAB CONDEMNS ABUSE OF CHILDREN AND TEACHING OF INTOLERNCE

The Channel 4’s Dispatches Programme ‘Lessons in Hate and Violence’ on Monday 14 February 2011 highlighted incidents of abuse of children and teaching of intolerance in British Mosques and Madrassas. Maulana Shahid Raza OBE, Chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) said: “There are around two thousand Mosques, Madrassas and Islamic Institutes in the UK. The majority of the Mosques, Madrassas and Islamic Institutes are making positive contributions by teaching  good citizenship, respect for all religions and individuals and  providing a safe, secure and comfortable learning environment”.

“However, even one incident of abuse against a child is one too many. It is unacceptable, illegal and abhorrent. Such an act is also not in accordance with the teachings of Islam which places a duty of care upon every Imam, Mosque and Islamic teacher to ensure that all children are safeguarded against any form of physical, verbal and emotional abuse”.

“We welcome the immediate firm action concerning the two Mosques featured in the Programme and request all parents and committee members to continue to be vigilant by taking immediate action on such abhorrent, but fortunately isolated, incidents”, he said.

The MINAB has been working with the NSPCC, Government Departments and Mosques and Islamic Institutes across the country to bring about excellence in learning, safeguarding and respect for all. We will continue to make this a priority area of our work so that parents, committee members of such institutions and relevant inspectorates work together to create an environment of excellence for the benefit of all our children.

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