More

Muslim Prayers At School: Jewish Defence League To Join Protest At Toronto Valley Park Middle School

Muslim Prayers

First Posted: 07/18/11 06:53 PM ET Updated: 09/17/11 06:12 AM ET

Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird

THE CANADIAN PRESS -- TORONTO - Several faith-based groups are planning to picket the Toronto District School Board's headquarters next week over its decision to allow Muslim prayers in a school cafeteria.

The Jewish Defence League of Canada, along with Christian and Hindu groups, say they will protest the controversial prayer sessions next Monday.

The prayer services at Valley Park Middle School in the city's north end have been going on for about three years.
A local imam leads the prayers in the school's cafeteria on Fridays.

The school started offering the services because Muslim students were missing classes in order to attend prayers at a nearby mosque.

The school board says only those students who wish to participate attend the service, and the costs are absorbed by the community.

The school board has said it is meeting its obligation to accommodate students' religious beliefs by offering more than 300 Muslim pupils a space to pray.

FOLLOW HUFFPOST CANADA

THE CANADIAN PRESS -- TORONTO - Several faith-based groups are planning to picket the Toronto District School Board's headquarters next week over its decision to allow Muslim prayers in a school cafet...
THE CANADIAN PRESS -- TORONTO - Several faith-based groups are planning to picket the Toronto District School Board's headquarters next week over its decision to allow Muslim prayers in a school cafet...
Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Imam Khalid Latif

Imam Khalid Latif: How Does Muslim Prayer Work

Each adult Muslim man and woman is required to pray five times a day and a prerequisite to our prayer is being in a state of ritual purity.
Supriya Dwivedi

Supriya Dwivedi: Valley Park Middle School or Valley Park Muslim School?

Toronto's Valley Park Middle School is allowing certain students a get out of jail -- I mean school -- free card, under the guise of the protection of religious freedoms. However, in a pluralistic society, such as Canada, no religion has a place in a secular school during class time, plain and simple.

Filed by Christian Cotroneo  | 
 
 
  • Comments
  • 48
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Yasser Yousufi
Parthian
330 Fans
05:05 AM on 07/27/2011
Jewish Defense League promoting Islamophobia! Is anyone surprised??
Permalink  |
mymom51
34 Fans
06:52 PM on 07/28/2011
I don't know about Canadian laws but the US has a separation between church and state. Scheduling a daily meditation time for all students would be a compromise that makes sense. Students don't need an Imam to pray, they are taught from very young how to pray. Having the Imam come in once a week on Friday is a joke. My muslim friends say that they can pray at any time and do not need this sort of accommodation. They say that their relationship with Allah does not depend on the Mosque. Some of my friends pray many more than 5 times a day.

This is not about being anti-Muslim it is about not giving any religion preference. Religion should not be that obvious. When entering into a foreign land as a guest one should learn the local language and adhere to most of the customs. To keep oneself apart is an insult to the host and makes it obvious that you are ungrateful for the opportunity to be there. If you do not like the local customs then perhaps you should find another home. I am always amazed at the people who come to the west and then complain about it. Why not stay at home and make it into the best country possible. Either come and be ready to participate fullly or deal with the obvious imperfectons of home.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Yasser Yousufi
Parthian
330 Fans
02:33 AM on 07/29/2011
Actually for Friday prayers a khutba (Sermon) to be delivered by an Imam is necessary. The Friday prayer is a congregational prayer that you cannot offer in your home or in seclusion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_prayer ). So I am afraid your friends dont seem to be followers of traditional Islam. Also there is no way you can or have to pray "many more times than 5 times a day".

Christians and Jewish students in Canada get their Saturdays and Sundays off to attend their Synagogues and Churches. Muslim children do not have the privilege of getting an off day on their scared day. So if for a couple of hours muslim kids get facilitated by their schools I do not see any problem with it. As it has been reported, the school board has said in a statement that they were not, in fact, violating any school board guidelines: "In the case of Valley Park, the school is not teaching the 'religious practice.' Rather it is accommodating for the religious and spiritual needs of the students like many other schools do around the country for a number of different faith communities."

The Jewish Community and JDL in particular has a chequered record when it comes to muslim related issues. It is essential for JDL to help promote tolerance of religous sensibilities of other religious minorities rather only look it with the short sighted view of "Whats good for Israel in this issue".
Permalink  |
jdave34
0 Fans
07:05 PM on 07/19/2011
school doesn't want muslim kids missing class to go to prayers.
school allows muslim kids to pray in the cafeteria with an imam.
kids get to meet religious obligations (that they don't have any choice in) and get an education.

why the outrage.
Permalink  |
photo
GeoToronto
Nik Nak Paddy Wak, Still Ridin' Caddy-Laks
180 Fans
 
07:23 AM on 07/19/2011
I used to pray a lot in high school.

"Oh please god don't let me fail this math test, I promise to study next time"
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
pjlowry
136 Fans
 
07:01 AM on 07/19/2011
I'm afraid this is unacceptable. As an atheist, I am very offended by this. Public schools are supposed to be neutral to all religions, that's why no one is allowed to say the Lord's Prayer in the morning anymore. The same has to be done for those who pray in the cafeteria, which is not a private place. I can see this going to court.

School is a place to learn. If you want to pray and learn about God, that what Church/Mosques are for. Keep God in there and away from schools.

To steal a quote from the Simpsons: God has no place in a public school, just like facts have no place in an organized religion.
Permalink  |
max ish
15 Fans
04:29 PM on 07/26/2011
you should check out this blog post http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/supriya-dwivedi/valley-park-middle-school_b_907253.html
Permalink  |
Canadian Conservative
2 Fans
02:48 AM on 07/19/2011
No relgious instruction, or prayer. (whether it's Islam, Chrisinanity, or Judism) should be allowed in public schools. Public schools should be completely secular and only allow religious teachning in terms of the academics.
Permalink  |
max ish
15 Fans
04:38 PM on 07/26/2011
well said!
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Steve Karmazenuk
Author, Freelance Journalist, Curmudgeon
111 Fans
 
10:06 PM on 07/18/2011
Are students from other religions allowed the time off to pray?

If so, why are Muslims being singled out?

If not, why are the Muslims given special treatment?
Permalink  |
pinkibus
1812 Fans
01:51 AM on 07/19/2011
Steve - reread the article.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
kiddub
154 Fans
02:09 PM on 07/31/2011
That is why we get Saturdays and Sundays off in the first place. EVERYONE gets saturday and sunday off to accomodate judeo christian religious practices. The only reason they allow shopping on sundays now is because capitalism has become the dominant dogma of the masses.
Permalink  |
AJW1976
156 Fans
08:33 PM on 07/31/2011
Um, no, in Canada the reason shopping on Sunday is allowed is because the legislation prohibiting it was unconstitutional. Although commercial interests were the major players in challenging that law at the end of the day the court's ruling was based on the substance of the law and the constitutional and not because of the identity of the challengers.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
470 Fans
08:02 PM on 07/18/2011
Public schools are suppose to be secular. There should be no praying at all. If students are missing class because of Friday praying that's their choice. No accommodations should be made for this group.
Permalink  |
max ish
15 Fans
04:39 PM on 07/26/2011
you should check out the raging debate on this blog post- it's mind boggling how some people will defend their religion even when it clearly makes no sense.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/supriya-dwivedi/valley-park-middle-school_b_907253.html
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
kiddub
154 Fans
02:10 PM on 07/31/2011
What is the harm? What are we losing by allowing prayer? What are we gaining by preventing it? Surely not freedom.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
alsm9
Bombshell
470 Fans
05:36 PM on 07/31/2011
Harm? Are you kidding????? There isn't enough space to type all the harm religion has and still causes. Good gawd!
Permalink  |
AJW1976
156 Fans
08:34 PM on 07/31/2011
The harm comes from legitimizing the indoctrination of children with irrational beliefs.
Permalink  |
photo
Squeezer55
74 Fans
07:55 PM on 07/18/2011
"The school board has said it is meeting its obligation to accommodate students' religious beliefs by offering more than 300 Muslim pupils a space to pray."

This is the same school board who a few years ago wanted to change " Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" to not offend those who are not Christians.

Obviously accommodation of students religious beliefs stops with those of Christian faith . I'm not religious but even I can see the blatant hypocrisy at work here.
Permalink  |
candan
45 Fans
07:54 PM on 07/18/2011
Far from teaching universal love, the Quran incessantly preaches the inferiority of non-Muslims, even comparing them to vile animals and gloating over Allah's hatred of them.

The Quran meets every criterion by which we define hate speech.

Islam cannot compete within the arena of free ideas and must rely on terrorism to keep believers.

Those who turn their back on Islam are to be put to death. This is confirmed by the words and deeds of Muhammad.

Good Stuff for the School to be Associated with.
Permalink  |
liberal microbiologist
1 Fans
07:16 PM on 07/18/2011
why does it focus on the Jewish league so specifically if other groups are involved
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
kiddub
154 Fans
02:12 PM on 07/31/2011
To me it seems odd that a religious group that has been so discriminated against would choose to discriminate against a religious group for attempting to practice their faith.
Permalink  |
AmericCanuck
98 Fans
06:43 PM on 07/18/2011
Klowns. I officially protest ALL prayers at ALL schools.
Permalink  |
canadapaul
47 Fans
06:14 PM on 07/18/2011
I feel sorry for the kids that will be caught in the crossfire.
These kids won't be allright.
Permalink  |
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ryan Devine
58 Fans
06:09 PM on 07/18/2011
How are you gonna stop someone from praying, let alone teenagers? Way to waste time and energy T-Don't Onterrible.
Permalink  |