Media 'denied Saudi academy a fair hearing'

Dubai: The British media has been engaged in a war of words with the Saudi-funded King Fahad Academy, located in West London, following allegations that textbooks which taught pupils that Jews were "apes" and Christians "pigs" were being used in the classrooms.

The allegations of Colin Cook, an English teacher who was dismissed in December for misconduct, has prompted the British government to investigate a school that has served Arab and British children. Schools Minister Jim Knight has said it would be "unacceptable" for any school to teach "inflammatory" material.

By and large, the media has used Cook's allegation as the basis for their reporting without putting any of the allegations to the academy's director or staff members.

The school's director Dr Sumaya Alyusuf told Gulf News: "The academy was never presented with material to respond to. Nothing was verified. Allegations were printed."

The Islamic school has vigorously denied teaching any form of racial hatred, and confirmed to Gulf News that while the passage in question exists in a certain textbook, it has never been used at the academy and is not part of the curriculum. Further-more, Dr Alyusuf said: "The passage in concern is about a story of Moses and his people when he came back to them and found them to be cheating because they worked on the Sabbath. They defied him so they are the ones who are referred to in that verse." She claims the passage was taken out of context, with misinterpretation resulting from English translation.

Teachers and students alike have been disappointed by Cook's accusations which also include calling the school's administration racist, treating female students as inferior and allowing cheating.

Charlotte Philips, who teaches English, history, and drama said: "What upsets me is that I know about the opinions of the girls at the academy and the atmosphere and what has been reflected in the press is not indicative of what goes on here."

She says the media has made "speculative statements" that are "not based on anything".

Islamic studies and Arabic teacher Wafa Said adds: "The media took one side and weren't fair with KFA. I felt that we had to defend ourselves as if we were doing something wrong. To be honest, I don't need to defend myself because I haven't done anything wrong."

Manar Al Hassani, student, said: "We were never taught to believe that Christians and Jews are like animals. KFA teaches racial harmony and how to live peacefully with other religions because that is what Islam is; Islam is peace. At the end of the day, I am not ashamed of attending this school."

- For full story see tomorrow's Weekend Review