http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=732PARENTS expressed outrage last night over a school’s plans to serve pupils a Muslim Christmas dinner.
The headteacher announced that she intended to replace the children’s traditional turkey meal with halal chicken.
She explained that eating poultry which had been slaughtered in the Muslim way would create an “integrated Christmas”.
But furious parents accused the school of undermining the Christian faith.
They were backed by Labour MP Denis MacShane who demanded to know why the children were not being offered a choice.
Mr MacShane said: “No child should be obliged to eat food that is contrary to their personal convictions or religion. Schools should offer a choice and not allow the joyous celebrations of a Christmas dinner to become a divisive issue.
“I hope all the children can join in this fun and if I am invited I would be delighted to sit down with all the children for a Christmas dinner, halal, non halal or the healthy option, vegetarian.”
After Mr MacShane’s intervention, Jan Charters, head of Oakwood School in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, backed down and youngsters will now be offered a choice of halal chicken or a traditional turkey dinner, costing £1.75.
Campaigners and religious organisations said the ban on traditional Christmas celebrations was making Britain a more divided society.
John Midgley, of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: “It seems as though the parents have made the school see sense.
“Until common sense prevailed the school was creating a problem when there was no problem.”
Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: “Headteachers and school governors should not make this sort of mistake in the first place. There are a lot of these silly people around who undermine British culture.
“This is a victory for common sense. It is good these mad politically correct people have been made to think again.”
Abdul Dean, ethnic minorities officer for the Christian People’s Alliance, said: “There is a political agenda here. Who are these people speaking on behalf of Muslims?
“Muslim parents themselves would not have objected to children being offered a choice. The teachers should have taken this on board especially in this time of tension.”
Topic: UK: Fury over Halal Christmas dinner (Read 2413 times)