American effort at winning Indian Muslims

Submitted by Vijay (United Kingdom), May 3, 2009 at 13:42

http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/03/stories/2009050350500200.htm

TAMBARAM: Madrasas are not training centres for terrorism, but politicians with vested interests were carrying out this campaign to create a wedge between Muslims and Hindus, Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali said on Thursday.

Speaking at the valedictory function of a 10-day English language workshop for Madrasa teachers, organised by Seethakathi Trust and Regional English Language Office of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, at B. S. Abdur Rahman University in Vandalur, he said such a campaign was part of attempts to project Islam as a religion of terrorism.

Stating that Islam advocated only peace, love and affection and respect for other religions, the Nawab at the same time emphasised that syllabus in Madrasas should be changed according to the times.

"U.S and India share similarity"

Speaking on the occasion, Andrew T.Simkin, U.S.Consul General in Chennai, said U.S and India shared the similarity of giving equal opportunities for people coming from diverse ethnic, language, racial and religious backgrounds.

Mr. Simkin, who also handed over certificates to the participants, said people speaking Arabic, Persian and Urdu were among the top 20 non-English speaking population in U.S. going by the census of 2000.

Frances A. Westbrook, Senior English Language Fellow, Office of English Language Programmes, U.S. Department of State, who taught the participants during the 10-day programme, said the focus of the workshop was on developing the communicative skills in English.

She hoped the participants would take the lessons learnt during the workshop, to their students in their respective Madrasas.

She said 27 'ulemas' from Madrasas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu had attended the workshop.

Moosa Raza, Chairman, Southern India Education Trust, K.A.Buhari, secretary of Seethakathi Trust, Dawood Shah, Director of Crescent School and convener of the workshop and Salman Khalil, Vice Consul at the U.S. Consulate, spoke.

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