Report finds Islamic plot to control UK schools

A British government investigation has found evidence that Muslim fundamentalists successfully gained control of some schools, raising fears that pupils are now vulnerable to radicalisation. It said there was an ‘effective take-over’ by like-minded people of a number of schools in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, leading to ‘the reinforcement of Muslim identity to the exclusion or disparagement of others.’ British Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said the report’s findings were disturbing. The report found ‘coordinated, deliberate and sustained action’ by a number of people to introduce an ‘intolerant and aggressive Islamic ethos’ into some of the city’s schools. It pointed to a pattern in which school authorities criticised well regarded head teachers and senior teachers were bullied, while new governing board staff members were rapidly promoted. The investigation examined online discussions between one all-male group of teachers at Park View School and found them to have disparaged certain strands of Islam, expressed homophobic sentiments and sought to increase segregation at the school. The report said Birmingham City Council failed to alert authorities of the practices that made some teachers worry pupils were learning to be intolerant of diversity, and may now find it harder to question or challenge radical influences, according to AP.