Local council accused of racism after quizzing young children on race and religion with survey critics claim is clearly aimed at Muslims.
A local council has been accused of racism after asking primary school children to fill in a so-called “counter extremism” questionnaire which critics claim is aimed at Muslims.
The survey asks children as young as nine living in Waltham Forest, east London, detailed questions about their beliefs and poses several leading statements for them to assess, concerning the strength of their feelings and how far they might go to defend their religion.
They include: “Religious books are to be understood word for word”, “I believe my religion is the only correct one”, “God has a purpose for me” and “I would do what a grown up told me to do even if it seemed odd to me”.
The project’s original web page, which has been edited in the last few days, originally said its purpose, where appropriate, was “to identify the initial seeds of radicalisation with children of primary school age”.
It said: “The consequences of social exclusion, radicalisation and violent extremism are far reaching and are apparent in today’s society in many forms.”
Cached web page about the project
referencing radicalisation and violent extremism:-
Massoud Shadjareh, chair of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said the questionnaire was “clearly racist and Islamophobic” and accused the local council of trying to profile Muslim children.
The survey has generated an outcry online, with many warning that it is “criminalising Muslim children” with its “implicit assumptions”.
One Twitter user said: “Is the purpose of this form to make sure kids lose all trust in the system as early as possible?” Other commentators referred to the “criminalisation” of Muslim children and said it was “undoubtedly” aimed at that one religion.
The voluntary survey was given to Year 5 and 6 pupils at five schools in east London, including Buxton Primary School, which has been forced to write to parents to defend and explain the move after it was circulated on social media.
