US Bans Quran In Iraqi Textbooks

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.jihadunspun.com/intheatre_internal.php?article=85069&list=/home.php&

Nov 26, 2003
Source: FT.com Via Muslim Daily Alert

Ala'din Alwan, Iraq's minister of education, has criticised the US Agency for International Development (USAID) for attempting to limit or ban Islamic religious references in experimental Iraqi school teaching materials paid for by the agency.

"Decisions about education in Iraq must be Iraqi decisions," said Dr Alwan, who added he was not consulted about the move. He said he would be reviewing the programme - a $4m (€3.3m, £2.4m) accelerated learning project for 500 students - in coming days.

The controversy started a few weeks ago when a western consultant working for USAID asked Iraqi ministry of education experts to remove verses from the Koran from experimental teaching materials for Arabic grammar, and replace them with neutral content. One of the experts disclosed this to the FT on the condition he not be named.
The western consultant, who works for USAID contractor Creative Associates International Inc (CAII), confirmed the request had been made.

Shannon Meehan, head of CAII in Baghdad, explained they were under strict instructions from USAID to fund only "neutral, apolitical and areligious" materials because the US constitution prohibited proselytising with US government money.

"If there is a sentence such as 'Praise be to God' in a grammar textbook, we will have a discussion about revising or changing that to a different sentence. We do not remove the lesson from the textbook, we simply change the sentence," Ms Meehan said.

USAID officials deny that they are the source of any pressure to remove religious themes from learning materials, and insist that all education decisions in Iraq are "Iraqi-led".

However, several USAID officials confirmed that guidelines exist not to fund school materials that violate the first amendment of the US constitution, which prohibits using government funds to promote religion. One senior USAID official said the guidelines are the result of a threat to sue USAID in the US, though the USAID press office knew of no such instance.

<snip>

This should go over well.

[underpants]

1. Oh so NOW they don't religion in schools. I guess it depends.....

Shannon Meehan, head of CAII in Baghdad, explained they were under strict instructions from USAID to fund only "neutral, apolitical and areligious" materials because the US constitution prohibited proselytising with US government money.

on the religion.

[Robb]

2. No kidding. n/t

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

3. I'd be interested in seeing their take on evolution. n/t

[underpants]

4. Evolution in the Garden of Eden?

Yes that should be an interesting discussion huh. IN the garden of eden but not the religion followed by a vast majority of those living there, or at least where most scholars believe it was.

ON EDIT-their replaced by there.

[maddezmom]

5. sounds like we're on a religious "crusade"

:(

what about religious freedom? sounds like another well thought out policy by the administration. NOT

[underpants]

7. Selective implimentation of the constitution in Iraq

So tey are going to observe the seperation of church in Iraq even though they claim IN THE US that the only basis for that interpretation is a letter written by Thomas Jefferson explaining what he meant...

BUT

The all holy second amendment HERE is not being applied in Iraq. Each household is allowed one gun (preferably AK-47's) but do not have the ability to buy other firearms as it appears that the preliferation of firearms might not being the best interest of the public good.

[UpInArms]

6. LOL!!!

let's see if I can remember Ann-the-Man's words:

invade their countries, kill their men and convert them all to christianity

Looks like he/she wrote the playbook on this one

[iam]

8. This

could be a great political issue here in the US. I bet the democratic leadership is too stupid and/or frightened to use it. This proves conservatives know the dangers of church-state collusion and yet they promote it here for power. Disgusting.

[mikehiggins]

9. Have the occupation authorities ever met

a stupid mistake that they did not fervently embrace?

Did we send the bottom 10% to run this show?

Are they all on drugs?

No Quran in the educational system?

Jeeze, Louise, people! Why not demand all the women wear pants suits?

Aren't there enough resistance members already?

Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb etc.

[maddezmom]

10. next~the pledge of alliance and reading of the 10 commandments n/t

[mmm]

11. I just LOVE the reason they give:

"...the US constitution prohibited proselytising with US government money."


Why not encourage Faith-based institutions--like what they want
for the US! Let the will of Allah be known throughout the kingdom!

[fshrink]

12. In God We Trust is it?

Glad to hear that the "US Constitution prohibited proselytising with US Government money"! The clearest proof, so far, that words themselves have ceased to describe ideas to become mere decorative elements. Perfectly Orwellian.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. Well, everybody knows the Quran teaches hate and violence....

...NOT.

Another great move in Iraq by the Bunnypants Brigade.

What's next? Elimination of all Muslims in Iraq?

[OneBlueSky]

14. well, wasn't one of the reasons for invading Iraq . . .

to convert the heathens? . . . I mean, as soon as things settle down a bit, don't you think every right-wing religious sect in the country will have their missionaries over there, spreading the gospel? . . . haven't several already announced their intention to do so? . . . fertile ground for the loonies to recruit new followers, or so they think . . .

[calimary]

15. Well that's certainly going to "win the hearts and minds."

My ass.

And by the way, OneBlueSky - that might actually be good. Maybe the fundies ought to be ENCOURAGED to go over there. Sure would get rid of them here.

[IndianaGreen]

16. I think Bin Laden is working for Paul Bremer

How else can one explain the many idiotic decisions made by the US colonial administration that has accomplished nothing short of enraging an entire population.