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Mosque visit to tackle terrorism Mosque visit to teach tolerance
(1 day later)
School children in Clackmannanshire are to be taken to visit local mosques in the wake of the Alva terror trial, BBC Scotland has learned.School children in Clackmannanshire are to be taken to visit local mosques in the wake of the Alva terror trial, BBC Scotland has learned.
Education officials in the area hope the scheme will increase understanding of other religions in the community.Education officials in the area hope the scheme will increase understanding of other religions in the community.
It was developed after former Alva Academy pupil Mohammed Atif Siddique was accused of terrorism offences.It was developed after former Alva Academy pupil Mohammed Atif Siddique was accused of terrorism offences.
The 21-year-old will be sentenced next month after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow. His lawyer Aamer Anwar said that the terrorism laws could criminalise sections of the community.
The student was arrested at his family's home in Alva in April 2006. Siddique will be sentenced next month after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow.
Mr Anwar said: "I have deep concerns that these laws continue to criminalise sections of the community.
Maybe we should have been thinking about these things before Gordon BanksOchil MPMaybe we should have been thinking about these things before Gordon BanksOchil MP
Ochil and South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks, who lives opposite, told the BBC Scotland news website he had met with officials from Clackmannanshire Council's education department. "Many people within the community will be concerned as to whether children and teenagers might be going on the internet and accessing material which is freely available.
"I do not believe that this is the way to isolate extremism. This will only encourage it."
Ochil and South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks, who lives opposite, told the BBC Scotland news website he had met officials from Clackmannanshire Council's education department.
He said he wanted to raise concerns about how Muslims were integrating into the wider community.He said he wanted to raise concerns about how Muslims were integrating into the wider community.
Mr Banks said: "We had a few discussions to come up with ideas of how we can allow our schools to better understand the role of the Muslim community and the Muslim religion, just to try and show to the rest of the community that the Muslim community is here and has something positive to offer.Mr Banks said: "We had a few discussions to come up with ideas of how we can allow our schools to better understand the role of the Muslim community and the Muslim religion, just to try and show to the rest of the community that the Muslim community is here and has something positive to offer.
"I believe the first school we're looking at to do something of a positive nature is Menstrie primary school."I believe the first school we're looking at to do something of a positive nature is Menstrie primary school.
"I would hope that this is the starting point of work that can go on for many numbers of years and I'm just saddened a little that it's taken an event like the arrest of last April to move us on to a situation where we actually all start thinking about the opportunity to do these things."I would hope that this is the starting point of work that can go on for many numbers of years and I'm just saddened a little that it's taken an event like the arrest of last April to move us on to a situation where we actually all start thinking about the opportunity to do these things.
"Maybe we should have been thinking about these things before.""Maybe we should have been thinking about these things before."
'Worthwhile experience''Worthwhile experience'
A spokeswoman for Clackmannanshire Council said the scheme would be rolled out across all schools in the area.A spokeswoman for Clackmannanshire Council said the scheme would be rolled out across all schools in the area.
"World religions are a core component of the curriculum and always have been," she said."World religions are a core component of the curriculum and always have been," she said.
"The council's education service is currently working with Alloa Mosque and Central Scotland Racial Equality Council on enhancing pupils' learning about Islam and the Muslim way of life."The council's education service is currently working with Alloa Mosque and Central Scotland Racial Equality Council on enhancing pupils' learning about Islam and the Muslim way of life.
"Alloa Mosque has recently expanded and now welcomes visitors of all ages. This new opportunity will undoubtedly prove an worthwhile experience for pupils.""Alloa Mosque has recently expanded and now welcomes visitors of all ages. This new opportunity will undoubtedly prove an worthwhile experience for pupils."
She added that school inspectors had praised Alva Academy in 2005 for its work on racial equality, which had been "continued and built on".She added that school inspectors had praised Alva Academy in 2005 for its work on racial equality, which had been "continued and built on".
But the move was criticised by Bill Kelly, chairman of Alva Community Council.
Mr Kelly said: "I really don't see the purpose of it. All they are doing is highlighting the issue. Let sleeping dog's lie, as they say.
"Things will quieten down and will get back to normal in our community."