Michelle Obama’s visit to the East London girl’s school remains a mystery. Mulberry school in East London is a comprehensive girl’s school for 11-18 age group. More than 90 per cent of the girls are Bangladeshis and Muslims.
The point is why on earth advisers and the department for Education have chosen a school where most of the students are Muslims. It was interesting to note the hijab wearing children were waving US flags.
We would have thought Mrs Obama would have told them that in a ’free’ democratic world women can wear what they like, say what they like, work where they like and marry whom they like. This is complete opposite of the future that lay in front of the girls. These girls who are bright would have understood the arguments to move into the main stream society.
Mrs Obama in her speech said the following: ‘you wonder if people will ever see beyond your headscarf to see who you really are?’ This is a very good point. These girls need a brave advocate for change of what is blatantly female-oppressive religion. She made it clear that it is not her.
In a multi-racial and multi- religious society to segregate girls on the basis religion is wrong. The school is not an Islamic school.
Arun Vaidyanathan
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