07 October 2015

David Cameron: Prime Minister warns over extremist teaching

Religious supplementary schools in England that teach children intolerance will be investigated and closed down, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

In his speech to the Conservative Party Conference, Mr Cameron promised to open these religious schools to inspection.

He said there was no problem with children learning about their faith in supplementary schools, but minds must be broadened, not "filled with poison".

The Muslim Council of Britain said it had concerns about the plans.

Speaking in Manchester, Mr Cameron told delegates: "Did you know, in our country, there are some children who spend several hours each day at a madrassa?

"Let me be clear: there is nothing wrong with children learning about their faith, whether it's at madrassas, Sunday schools or Jewish yeshivas.

"But in some madrassas, we've got children being taught that they shouldn't mix with people of other religions; being beaten; swallowing conspiracy theories about Jewish people.

"These children should be having their minds opened, their horizons broadened, not having their heads filled with poison and their hearts filled with hate. [BBC] Read more