By Gavin Mackintosh–
A former member of a “radical” Islamist group told a conference in Chadwell Heath that children should be taught that homosexuality is a sin which can be reversed through repentance.
Yusuf Patel, (pictured)who heads the group known as parents united, led the proactive voice urging parents to actively resist plans for homosexuality to be taught in school .
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Yusuf Patel, founder of SREIslamic, a campaign group set up to “fight for Muslim parental rights”.
Mr Patel can be seen on YouTube delivering a speech in which he says: “We believe homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle choice.”
He once wrote on SREIslamic’s website that he was a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist group described by the UK Home Office as “radical” and banned in countries including Egypt, Turkey and Germany.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
The agenda to teach school children about the rights of gay pupils was designed to institute a collective voice against discrimination aimed at gay people, and stress the importance of treating everybody equally.
However, some religious groups have taken strong exception to the plans and have been encouraging parents to oppose the scheduled arrangement to educate children about equal treatment regardless of various dispositions to sexuality.
A separate speaker, from the UK arm of a U.S Christian group which has campaigned to keep homosexuality illegal in the USA, also implored parents to vehemently oppose what he described as the LGBT agenda”. Some parents warmed up to the idea, while others have strongly opposed the confrontation of provisional plans by the British government.
Parents United produced a report about the conference, held in November at the Al-Huda Welfare Foundation in Wangey Road, and sent it to politicians and the Department for Education (DfE).
Parents United was set up to resist the “promotion” of LGBT lifestyles in schools.
According to the website of parent’s united , its aim is to engage proactively with the council ,schools and other faith community in Redbridge to achieve the aim of safeguarding the innocence of children.
The groups website aims to educate parents on what they need to know of the law and their rights and empower children to hold and communicate their beliefs respectfully, empower parents with information, confidence and contacts to take action within their own schools and community groups.
According to a 33-page report published on its website, the group held the conference in response to “many incidents” reported by parents united.
Under new guidance by The Department of Education, schools are required to address LGBT issues in sex education – but Parents United says that teaching should take account of “the religious and cultural background of children” and “be balanced, impartial and non-political.”
Included in its 33 page report was the claim that “Parents have reported that children are too afraid to voice their views,” its report said.
“When they do, they are silenced and victimised for not agreeing that same-sex relationships should be celebrated.”
According to the National Secular Society (NSS): “Although Parents United like to portray themselves as nothing more than a group of concerned parents, the reality is that it has platformed religious fundamentalists and Islamists with a wider political agenda, whilst also promoting harmful homophobic views.”
In a document published on its website, Parents United said the first speaker at its November conference was from ADF UK – set up in 2018 as an offshoot of the USA Christian organisation Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
Filed legal papers by its U.S branch has previously calling for the continued criminalisation of homosexuality in Texas.
In the same year, the group’s former president Alan Sears and another ADF member wrote a book saying homosexuality was “often intrinsically linked” to paedophilia.
In 2012, Mr Sears wrote in another document: “The good news is that we have won many cases against the homosexual legal agenda… There is no room for compromise with those who would call evil ‘good’.”
An ADF UK representative has previously said changes to sex education in England “should concern parents”, and called on them to “stand up to defend parental rights”.
According to Parents United, an ADF UK speaker told its conference that if an element of sex education was “not essential” and was “being constantly complained about”, then “it takes up staff time and it’s going to encourage the school culturally to remove that.”
ADF UK said Parents United’s report on the conference was its own summary and not a verbatim account of what its speaker said.
It said it had “local staff, leadership and board of directors” and was not answerable for its US arm’s actions.
It said it worked “to protect fundamental freedoms and promote the inherent dignity of all people
Mr Patel called the teaching of LGBT issues in schools “a ticking timebomb” and urged parents to “pre-empt these issues before it affects our homes”.
He reportedly said children should be taught that “every behaviour is changeable” and they “must come back from sinful behaviour through TAWBA.”
TAWBA means repentance. Mr Patel has made similar remarks in another speech, viewable on YouTube.
The NSS said that in light of this conference, politicians, schools and the media should “treat Parents United with according scepticism”.
“The religious beliefs of parents should never be privileged over the teaching of accurate science and acceptance of all peoples regardless of sexual orientation,” said campaigns officer Jack Rivington.
Redbridge Council, whose schools Parents United claims to have lobbied, would not respond to the Recorder’s questions or make any comment.
Havering Council said it was not aware of any schools in its borough having been approached.
“We strongly oppose any form of discrimination and won’t tolerate anything that promotes hatred, bigotry and ignorance,” said Oscar Ford, cabinet member for children’s services.
“We will of course support our schools should they be approached by these type of organisations.
“The council is proud to promote equality and diversity in the borough and we will always speak out against anyone that wishes to promote division or hate.”
The DfE said statutory guidance required secondary school pupils to be “taught the facts and the law about sex and sexuality”.
“There should be an equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships,” it said.
“Parents should be aware of what their children are being taught, especially relating to the teaching of sensitive topics.”
Under the Human Rights Act, individuals have a right to freedom of religion, but that right is to be balanced with other rights, including the right for pupils to be taught the ened for equal treatment, including treating gay people with respect, and not discriminating against them, or marginalising them.
The strong opposition from parents rights has the potential to escalate into a tense acrimonious war, but it is hoped the matter can be resolved fairly and amicably.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar