|
No one should really
need reminding that British Christians and the secular alike still make up
the majority of the population, but are increasingly second class citizens
in our own country as the Islamic faith tightens its grip on all aspects
of daily life, from halal food being served up for all pupils in schools
and all inmates in prisons to police officers forcing individuals to stop
flying st. George’s flags from their homes or vehicles.
Now in a new development second class treatment of kerfs (non-believers)
continues in death after a midlands council announced plans for a
multi-faith cemetery in which all graves will be aligned with the Mecca.
Christian graves traditionally face east although as space in churchyards
and council cemeteries diminishes many of today’s grave are dug in
whatever space is available. Facing east is a tradition dating back to the
time of Christ and reflects the belief that the second coming of Jesus
Christ will be first seen in the east.
But all headstones at the new £2.5m high wood cemetery in Bulwell,
Nottingham will be plotted to face north-east, in line with Islamic faith
and Christians who make a special request to have a traditional
east-facing grave may be forced to pay for what the council calls “extra
maintenance”.
Muslims believe the dead look over their shoulder towards the Islamic holy
city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia towards the south-east.
The controversial decision was taken after consultation with the city's
cemeteries consultative committee.
Opposition
And at last some senior church figures are speaking out against this
ridiculous decision by the labour controlled city of Nottingham council
the rev David gray, from st john's church, Bulwell, said: "all faiths
should have their beliefs respected.
"it would be wrong to stipulate one over the other, especially in our
climate of trying to be sensitive of other people's beliefs.
"it is an evolving cemetery and should be made for people of all faiths
and certainly people of Christian faiths.
"for some people it doesn't matter, but for those who prefer that they are
facing east it is important."
"perhaps as the cemetery evolves there could be some sort of alteration,"
said mr gray. "i hope that that would be the case, so those of the
Christian faith, just like anybody, would not feel excluded from their
faith."
conflicts with tradition
Rachel farmer, a spokeswoman for the diocese of Southwell and Nottingham,
said: "positioning all the graves in the direction of mecca conflicts with
the long-standing christian burial tradition of graves facing towards the
east. We believe the people of Nottingham should have the opportunity to
follow the Christian burial traditions if they choose to and the Christian
faith should not be discriminated against in this way.
"the 2001 census showed that more than 70% of the population consider
themselves Christian.
"this new policy will limit the choice of the majority in relation to
burials at this new cemetery.
"we totally support an inclusive policy for graveyards, which takes into
account the religious traditions of all faiths, but this should not be
done to the exclusion of another."
council defence
Steve Dowling, services director for environment and public protection,
defended the council’s decision citing that many graves in Nottingham
often do not follow the tradition of facing east.
He said: "high wood is a large and beautiful site with room to meet
everyone's needs.
"in the first phase of development it has been agreed that the graves will
face north east.
"for people of the Muslim faith this fits in with a religious requirement,
but it will also ensure a tidy appearance for the site as a whole.
"consultation with a wide variety of groups will continue as the cemetery
evolves and there will be an opportunity to consider any suggestions and
special wishes."
it seems that in death as well as life, the British majority must give way
to the demands of a vociferous, unyielding and belligerent minority. |
21st September 2006
Parents in Worcestershire have reacted angrily after
discovering that their children have been served halal meat without their
knowledge at local schools.
” I am appalled to hear that students have been served halal meat without
being informed of this. Choosing to eat stunned meat is often a conscious
choice, just like a Muslim’s choice to eat halal meat, and these choices
must be respected. Just as Muslims have the right to object to stunned
meat and feel very strongly about the method of slaughter, others have the
right to object to halal meat, we really don’t like the way these animals
are killed. As usual, our views aren’t being considered by the powers that
be.”
Halal killing refers to the method of slaughter acceptable to Muslims.
This involves cutting the animal’s neck, arteries and oesophagus, and
draining all its blood prior to eating. Animals are not stunned prior to
being killed.
A 2003 report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) argued that the
practice caused animal’s considerable suffering.
The Government decided not to ban halal killing. Instead, they recommended
a compromise, involving immediate stunning after a cut was made.
|
