Wild (small) thing

Schoolboy T’s latest obsession is with wild animals – the bigger and the more deadly the better.

One day last week after a hard day’s home schooling I found him sitting quietly and staring into his laptop. I was a little concerned and asked him if he was okay.

He looked slightly puzzled by my inquiry and replied: “Yes, I’m just waiting for my tea... like any other predator.’’

I was pleased to read in the Peterborough Telegraph two comments – one from our

Member of Parliament Paul Bristow in “Westminster Life” and the other from Councillor Shaz Nawaz, Labour group leader, about the vaccine to beat the virus.

It is pleasing to note that there is no “politics” regarding this deadly virus and the need to get the vaccine when offered.

I would also like to add my views on this subject, particularly for our Muslim communities after discussing with health professionals and religious scholars.

We are all fully aware without any shadow of doubt as to how deadly this Covid 19 virus is and witnessed dozen of our close friends, family members and other people have died due to this virus since March of last year and hundreds of people were directly affected and either have to do self isolation or ended up in hospitals.

We do not have enough words to thank the NHS and all those people who are working directly or indirectly with the NHS to save our lives.

In addition damages done to the economy, job losses, mental health issues and many other financially losses are unmeasureable.

We are extremely lucky that we have the availability with the vaccine and it is available at our doorsteps freely.

Millions of people have already had their first vaccination over a short period.

The only way we can all have some kind of normal life in future is if everyone receives the vaccination.

All kind of false information being spread about social media about the vaccine has been dispelled by the medical experts including Muslim doctors –BIMA- (British Islamic Medical Association) –-and the Islamic scholars who have stated clearly there is nothing “Haram” in the vaccine. Muslims are quite rightly concerned about what is (Halal) permissible or “Haram” which is not permissible.

If you still have any concern on medical ground please talk to your doctors or on religious ground talk to religious scholars.

I am therefore requesting everyone to please have this vaccine – both doses – when it is offered to you, to protect you, your family and the public at large. I along with my family already had first vaccine three weeks ago without any problem.

Abdul M Choudhuri

Chairman Faizan e Madinah Mosque

Peterborough.

CATS

Re New Catholic Primary School in Hamptons (PT, 11/02/2021).

Mr Tony Thanickal’s characterisation of those who held different views than his own about this school as ‘bigoted few’ is totally wrong and uncalled for. In the same issue, this paper reported another development surrounding this school. It was about

a church newsletter that ac- cused the Hampton residents of spreading misinformation, lies and anti-Catholic feelings, which they later admitted was not an accurate description of the facts for which they issued an apology to the Hampton residents.

We are living in a pluralistic society where we all, including Mr Thanickal, have a right to ‘Free Speech’ without being subjected to abuse for expressing a particular view or opinion. Mr Thanickal may not like this view, but he has no right to be abusive to them.

Peterborough is a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-faith city with diversity, inclusion and peaceful co-existence being its distinguishing features.

We all want to be able to live in peace and harmony with each other respecting each other’s views with tolerance and understanding. Many believe this school is an antithesis to this ideal.

This school is being funded by public money. 90 per cent, I think, comes from the Government and 10 per cent comes from our city council. This means our taxes and rates are being used to set up this school. We have every right to say we oppose our hard earned money to be used

to fund this school which will exclusively cater for only one particular faith-based community, however unpleasant it may feel to Mr Thanickal. Yes, the shadow governors of the school stated that 20 per cent of the places would be reserved for non-Catholics, but I cannot see the Muslim, the Hindus, the COE, the Buddhist, the Jain and other nonfaith parents will be queuing up to send their children to this school.

And, what’s more, if the places are oversubscribed, Catholic children will get the preference.

It is worth noting that the school’s ethos and values will reflect the teachings of Catholicism with its motto ‘pass the faith onto others’.

So, by default it will be a religious private school funded by all of us, but entry will be restricted only to those who are Catholics, whereas all we need in this polarised and divided society is more diversity not less in the class room drawing children from all faith groups and of different ethnicity.

This school, according to Peterborough Telegraph report, will be the first statefunded Catholic school in England for more than 10 years. The question is – why

now? Why have the Tory Government and the council decided that now is the time for more religious schools? I do not know whether our council had the legal power to stop this. I guess not, since it was a Government-sponsored project, as I understand it. However, the Government could have gone a different route to achieve the same goal.

Why didn’t they try to increase the existing capacity at schools, use unused capacity where it existed and also by being creative and innovative in its search for adding extra places for primary schools?

Using taxpayers’ money to set up private school for a privileged few is wrong. I wonder how many of the perceived Catholic parents go to church regularly, if at all, to qualify to send their children to this school? Probably a few, probably none at all. So, for them, it will be a back door free entry to a private school paid for by all of us.

The church should have funded this project, not us; they are not short of money.

Finally, I am not a bigot. I have the greatest of respect for all religions and those who practice them.

Chandra Roy

Bretton