Christian school’s letter about Islam ‘hateful, incorrect’
An upmarket Joburg school been accused of Islamophobia after it sent a newsletter in which Christianity and Islam were compared.
|||Johannesburg - A Joburg Christian school has been accused of religious hatred and Islamophobia after comments about Islam.
Last week, The King’s School in Linbro Park sent a newsletter to parents in which it compared Christianity to Islam, much of which has been regarded as “hateful and incorrect”.
In a segment of that newsletter, Bob Fuller, head of student affairs at the upmarket, private school compares the two religions.
He writes of the azan, which calls Muslims to prayer and can be heard from the school, but incorrectly refers to the azan as an “imam”. He says: “As I listen, I can’t help but think of the vast difference between Muslim and Christian prayers.”
He goes on to say: “Muslims pray in the hope that it might earn them salvation, while Christians pray because we already have assurance of salvation.”
Fuller adds: “Muslims pray at prescribed times according to a set ritual in the hope that they will be heard, while Christians can pray anywhere at any time in any words we may choose,with the assurance that every word is heard because of our personal relationship with God.”
He also writes that he is grateful for “the daily reminder to pray for Muslims to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to intercede for Christian missionaries, some of whom I know personally, who are daily reaching out to Muslims, often at the risk of their lives”.
This letter by the Head of Student Affairs -The King's School Linbro Park is offensive. We need religious tolerance. pic.twitter.com/OTcPUtvDcj
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) June 29, 2016
He ends the letter by incorrectly mentioning the dates of Ramadaan.
The controversial letter caught the attention of the Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee who posted it to his 138 000 Twitter followers, saying he has written to the school.
He told The Star he is calling for “the immediate withdrawal of the letter and an unreserved apology to the Muslim community and others who have been offended”.
“Failing to retract and apologise unreservedly within 48 hours, will force me to consider other options and reserve my rights.”
He says the newsletter is Islamophobic, promoting racial hatred and intolerance.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi tweeted: “I am still shaking in disbelief!”
Neither the school nor the department were available for comment.
karishma.dipa@inl.co.za
The Star