Music is a mystery to apes left baffled
IF only Walt Disney had known, he might not have had hipster ape King Louie belt out “I wanna be like you” in The Jungle Book.
Scientists have learned that great apes including chimpanzees and orangutans like Louie have absolutely no appreciation of music.
In fact evidence suggests that the ability to comprehend and enjoy music is one of the most distinguishing features separating humans from their hairy cousins. Chimps may share 96% of human DNA, but they turn a deaf ear to music. It makes no difference whether they are listening to Beethoven or Bieber - it is all just meaningless. A RELIGIOUS leader who admitted beating children is still leading prayers at a Coventry mosque and may be allowed to continue teaching youngsters.
Mohammed Karamat attacked four children during a six-day period and was handed unpaid work and a restraining order banning him from contacting three of this victims and their parents.
He had slapped one of the children and stabbed another with a pen - one of his victims was just nine years old.
Despite confessing to his crimes, Karamat is still leading prayers at the Noorul Islam Jamia Mosque in Eagle Street, Foleshill, where he is an Imam.
A spokesman for the Islamic Brotherhood Coventry, which runs the mosque, said he may also be allowed to teach youngsters after undergoing “training and a rehabilitation process”.
Shabbir Ahmed, treasurer and spokesman for the executive management committee of Islamic Brotherhood Coventry, said: “Mr Karamat admitted charges as soon as he was arrested and entered his guilty pleas before the magistrates.
“He has expressed his deepest remorse and has been apologetic ever since this incident and reassured everyone that there will be no repeti- tion of this kind in the future.
“The Imam will continue offering and leading prayers in the mosque and attend any special events in the family centre.
“The court hasn’t restricted the Imam from teaching children, except three named children, and (he may not be allowed to) teach until he has gone through training and a rehabilitation process.
Karamat’s shocking actions against the children were caught on CCTV.
Magistrates watched footage of him twisting a child’s arm, slapping a child, using a pen to stab a child and pricking a child’s hand with the lid of a pen.
He pleaded guilty to four counts of assault by beating at Coventry Magistrates’ Court and the 45-year-old, of Station Street East, Foleshill, was ordered to pay £135 court costs and a £85 victim surcharge, on top of the other penalties.