UK: Inquiry into Muslim school takeover plot widens to 15 schools

It’s a good thing that British authorities are investigating this. If this plot had succeeded, then “hardline Muslims” would be teaching British schoolchildren that it is “racist” and “bigoted” to object to Muslims jeering at and attacking British soldiers returning from Afghanistan, and that those who oppose jihad terror and Islamic supremacism are “not conducive to the public good,” and that groups like the Muslim Brotherhood should be allowed to operate freely in the U.K., or at least to do so after a perfunctory and apologetic investigation, and that non-Muslims should never, ever say or do anything that Muslims find offensive, for that would be the cardinal sin of “Islamophobia.” Indeed, if this plot had succeeded, one might have thought that British authorities were allowing the country to gallop toward Islamization.

“Inquiry into ‘Islam plot’ widens to 15 schools,” from the Telegraph, April 13:

The investigation into an alleged plot by hardline Muslims to force out uncooperative head teachers and governors has widened to 15 schools.

Ofsted inspectors have been sent into the schools, all of which are in Birmingham, to investigate allegations of extremism and radicalism which came to light after an anonymous letter apparently setting out a “Trojan horse” blueprint for seizing control of governing bodies was leaked.

Ofsted will closely examine 15 schools after Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, ordered a series of inspections. The Department for Education (DfE) said it was vital these were “carried out impartially’’ and said it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

A parallel investigation is being carried out by Birmingham city council, and one academy school has had its financial arrangements reviewed. The council last week announced a freeze on the recruitment of local authority school governors across Birmingham, stating the system was “not fit for purpose’’.

An update on the progress of the city council’s inquiry is expected this week.

The allegations detailed in the Trojan horse letter focus on the Park View Educational Trust, which runs three schools in the city, all of which have been subjected to snap Ofsted inspections in recent weeks. It is understood the results of these inspections will be published after Easter.

Anonymous whistleblowers, including former teachers, have also come forward since the Trojan horse claims were reported, making accusations about the segregation of boys and girls in classes and assemblies, a ban on sex education, and bullying of non-Muslim staff. One school involved in the investigation denied claims that an al-Qaeda-linked cleric had been praised during an assembly.