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'Gateway to the east'
A unique school that aims to break cultural barriers and dispel negative stereotypes of Islam has been praised by students and parents as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Watford Arabic School was founded in 1983 by Dr Abdel-Ghaney Saleh to help people of all nationalities, cultures and religions learn the Arabic language and about Islam in an informal and friendly setting.
There are now 70 pupils, aged seven to 70, at the school, which meets each Sunday at Watford Grammar School for Girls, in Lady's Close.
Dr Saleh jokes the school is like the "United Nations", where pupils with wide-ranging backgrounds can learn side-by-side without religious or political tensions and a strong emphasis is placed on respect, cohesion, tolerance, understanding and harmony.
During its 20th anniversary celebrations in 2003, Watford Mayor Dorothy Thornhill described the school as a "jewel in Watford's crown" that has broken down cultural barriers and dispelled negative stereotypes about Islam.
Caroline Tapster, Hertfordshire County Council chief executive, was also impressed with the school during a visit in 2007.
She said: "It was a real joy to see the enthusiasm and commitment from the students and the skill and dedication of the teachers. It was clear to me that the school is very much reaching out into the community."
Mayor Thornhill gave further praise to the school during Watford Borough Council's Audentior Awards earlier this year, when Dr Saleh was presented with a special 25th anniversary achievement award.
Parents and students have also spoken highly of Dr Saleh.
Zubair Hussaini, 35, from Pine Grove, Bushey, was one of the first pupils at the school 25 years ago. Now his two children, Sumayyah, six, and Hafsah, five, are students themselves.
Zubair said: "My parents brought me along. It was enjoyable and must have had a good impact because I have brought my children here since."
Originally from Germany, Sabine Beck takes her ten-year-old son Youssef to the school, so he can learn about his Egyptian father's heritage. Youssef is also learning German.
Sabine, 47, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Watford, said: "My husband is Egyptian so I would like Youssef to get to know the culture and language."
Dental surgeon Sophia Mustafa, 38, has two children at the school - Aneeka, 11, and Shamoun, eight. She is from Pakistan.
Sophia said: "I found kids were not learning respect for their elders and were answering me back.
"They go to a very good school but they were failing as far as manners were concerned.
"I brought them here and their manners have improved."
Abdur-Rahman Raines, from Bruce Grove, Watford, who converted to Islam 30 years ago, added: "Dr Saleh has been going for 25 years and not given up. He's there no matter what. Here people can be culturally themselves, rather than be forced to fit in.
"We're extremely grateful to Dr Saleh for everything he's done. He's here through thick and thin and quite an ambassador for society."
Born in Egypt, Dr Saleh, 70, came to Watford in 1974 as a printer and was a lecturer at West Herts College. He also held the position of chairman of the Watford branch of the Institute of Printers.
Dr Saleh, of Whippendell Road, said: "We've survived 25 years. We're serving the community the best we can. We ask them what they want us to teach and that's why the school is flourishing. Like Watford is a gateway to London, the school is a gateway to the east.
"This is my life. I'm so proud of this, more than my PhD. Any person can do a PhD but not everyone has the vision, dedication and driving force to do this."
For more information about Watford Arabic School, telephone 01923 245670 or email agsaleh38@hotmail.com.
8:28am Saturday 3rd May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Roy Stockdill on 10:10pm Mon 5 May 08
>Dr Saleh, of Whippendell Road, said: "We've survived 25 years. We're serving the community the best we can. We ask them what they want us to teach and that's why the school is flourishing. Like Watford is a gateway to London, the school is a gateway to the east.<
And why, precisely, may one ask, do we in the West need a gateway to the East? What has Islam to teach us, other than that the chronological distance between the two cultures is approximately 1,000 years and that the Islamic religion is totally backward, repressive to women, macho-male dominated by ignorant men who basically hate women and see them as objects to be owned, utterly outmoded and has absolutely no relevance in the 21st century?
Negative stereotypes? Have we forgotten so quickly how many people died in London in July 2005, murdered by British-born Muslim fanatics? And we have all read recently about a Muslim father in Iraq who murdered his own daughter in a so-called "honour killing" purely because she had an innocent friendship with a British soldier. These are examples of how far apart the two cultures are. Where is the explanation and apology from the Watford Arabic School for these horrendous acts? I do not expect to see a response!
Dorothy Thornhill (whom I know and like personally), like all politicians chooses to pander to the Msulim vote when it suits her.
>Dr Saleh, of Whippendell Road, said: "We've survived 25 years. We're serving the community the best we can. We ask them what they want us to teach and that's why the school is flourishing. Like Watford is a gateway to London, the school is a gateway to the east.<
And why, precisely, may one ask, do we in the West need a gateway to the East? What has Islam to teach us, other than that the chronological distance between the two cultures is approximately 1,000 years and that the Islamic religion is totally backward, repressive to women, macho-male dominated by ignorant men who basically hate women and see them as objects to be owned, utterly outmoded and has absolutely no relevance in the 21st century?
Negative stereotypes? Have we forgotten so quickly how many people died in London in July 2005, murdered by British-born Muslim fanatics? And we have all read recently about a Muslim father in Iraq who murdered his own daughter in a so-called "honour killing" purely because she had an innocent friendship with a British soldier. These are examples of how far apart the two cultures are. Where is the explanation and apology from the Watford Arabic School for these horrendous acts? I do not expect to see a response!
Dorothy Thornhill (whom I know and like personally), like all politicians chooses to pander to the Msulim vote when it suits her.
Posted by: hanbal, watford west on 3:48pm Tue 6 May 08
Roy,
Thats a ludicrous comment. You really do have a myopic view of the world. Its like giving the example of that pervert fritzl and extrapolating that all christians/westerner
s rape their daughters!
Roy,
Thats a ludicrous comment. You really do have a myopic view of the world. Its like giving the example of that pervert fritzl and extrapolating that all christians/westerner
s rape their daughters!
Posted by: Roy Stockdill on 7:23pm Tue 6 May 08
I am, as is well known, utterly opposed to all religions. I just happen to believe that Islam is the most backward, repressive and mediaeval of them all, holding millions of uneducated and simple people in its thrall and holding back the advance of civilisation and the human race. Mind you, the Roman Catholic Church runs it a very close second. The world will never move on until we get rid of the perverse and evil effects of institutionalised and ritualistic religions, which are based on longstanding fallacies and outmoded books like the Bible and the Koran, written many centuries ago and which have no place in the 21st century. I don't see this as myopic - more as imaginative and a common sense view of the world.
I am, as is well known, utterly opposed to all religions. I just happen to believe that Islam is the most backward, repressive and mediaeval of them all, holding millions of uneducated and simple people in its thrall and holding back the advance of civilisation and the human race. Mind you, the Roman Catholic Church runs it a very close second. The world will never move on until we get rid of the perverse and evil effects of institutionalised and ritualistic religions, which are based on longstanding fallacies and outmoded books like the Bible and the Koran, written many centuries ago and which have no place in the 21st century. I don't see this as myopic - more as imaginative and a common sense view of the world.
Posted by: Harry, Southall on 9:17pm Wed 7 May 08
Only recently a gang of five men "savagely and mercilessly" attacked and killed a “goth” because they dress differently.
Did religion play any part in this?
How many thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians been raped, tortured or murdered by US/UK forces? The US/UK do not count and the dead cannot speak. Has religion got anything to do with this?
The greater part/evil is holding a very narrow minded view [bold]and[/bold] a total disregard for others (life) to the extent that they are irrelevant or forcing your view upon them.
Without an enemy some peoples lives would be boring/meaningless and some leaders would not be able to stay in office or face reality.
Only recently a gang of five men "savagely and mercilessly" attacked and killed a “goth” because they dress differently.
Did religion play any part in this?
How many thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians been raped, tortured or murdered by US/UK forces? The US/UK do not count and the dead cannot speak. Has religion got anything to do with this?
The greater part/evil is holding a very narrow minded view
and a total disregard for others (life) to the extent that they are irrelevant or forcing your view upon them.
Without an enemy some peoples lives would be boring/meaningless and some leaders would not be able to stay in office or face reality.
Posted by: Roy Stockdill on 10:08pm Wed 7 May 08
I am not entirely clear what your point is and which side you are taking. However, my view is very clear.
I abhor ALL religions as being backward, medieval, repressive and a manifestation of widespread ignorance and lack of education. Religion holds billions of very ignorant and backward people in thrall because they know no better and have never known anything different. They have had religion inculcated into them from birth, generation after generation after generation for many centuries and they are incapable of seeing that they have been conned. There are also millions of people who use religion as a crutch and a comfort blanket because they are unable to think or act for themselves and rely on some supposed supernatural being to make their decions for them.
This is not a narrow view, this is a manifestation of truly sensible and right-thinking people seeing the world as it really is and rejecting all religious nonsense and ritualistic mumbo-jumbo. Whether Christians go down on their knees and put thir hands together, or Muslims go down on their knees and stick their backsides in the air, it is all utter, utter rubbish!
Non-believers, humanists and secularists are the only people who see the world and the future in a genuinely logical and sensible manner.
Let us be clear about this: there is no such person or thing as God or Allah or whatever you want to call him/it! It is all utterly fatuous nonsense.
I am not entirely clear what your point is and which side you are taking. However, my view is very clear.
I abhor ALL religions as being backward, medieval, repressive and a manifestation of widespread ignorance and lack of education. Religion holds billions of very ignorant and backward people in thrall because they know no better and have never known anything different. They have had religion inculcated into them from birth, generation after generation after generation for many centuries and they are incapable of seeing that they have been conned. There are also millions of people who use religion as a crutch and a comfort blanket because they are unable to think or act for themselves and rely on some supposed supernatural being to make their decions for them.
This is not a narrow view, this is a manifestation of truly sensible and right-thinking people seeing the world as it really is and rejecting all religious nonsense and ritualistic mumbo-jumbo. Whether Christians go down on their knees and put thir hands together, or Muslims go down on their knees and stick their backsides in the air, it is all utter, utter rubbish!
Non-believers, humanists and secularists are the only people who see the world and the future in a genuinely logical and sensible manner.
Let us be clear about this: there is no such person or thing as God or Allah or whatever you want to call him/it! It is all utterly fatuous nonsense.
Posted by: Roy Stockdill on 10:23pm Wed 7 May 08
Watford Area Humanists
20 May 2008
This will be a Special Meeting to establish a Watford Area Humanists group. Pepper Harow of the British Humanist Association will give a talk on Inclusion for non-religious people at local government level. All free-thinking people in the South West Herts area are welcome to attend and to contribute towards the meeting. This is a unique opportunity to come together with like-minded people who want to live a good life in a world without religious or superstitious dogma.
When
19:30 - 22:00
One day only
Where
Watford Town and Country Club
Rosslyn Road
Watford
WD18 0JX
Event contact details
Telephone: 01923 252013
Email: j.dowdle@tiscali.co.
uk
Price
Admission is free
Age restrictions
All independent-thinking adults are welcome
Watford Area Humanists
20 May 2008
This will be a Special Meeting to establish a Watford Area Humanists group. Pepper Harow of the British Humanist Association will give a talk on Inclusion for non-religious people at local government level. All free-thinking people in the South West Herts area are welcome to attend and to contribute towards the meeting. This is a unique opportunity to come together with like-minded people who want to live a good life in a world without religious or superstitious dogma.
When
19:30 - 22:00
One day only
Where
Watford Town and Country Club
Rosslyn Road
Watford
WD18 0JX
Event contact details
Telephone: 01923 252013
Email: j.dowdle@tiscali.co.
uk
Price
Admission is free
Age restrictions
All independent-thinking adults are welcome
Posted by: sofia on 2:51pm Fri 9 May 08
Roy, you seem like just the kind of loving humanist this world needs on top of so called religious fanatics..you seem as bigoted as the people you condemn..and then you advertise some humanist meeting??!!! you're not a very inspirational advocate.
Roy, you seem like just the kind of loving humanist this world needs on top of so called religious fanatics..you seem as bigoted as the people you condemn..and then you advertise some humanist meeting??!!! you're not a very inspirational advocate.
Posted by: Roy Stockdill on 9:44pm Fri 9 May 08
I am intelligent and forward-looking enough to know that both the Bible and the Koran are works of fiction and, as I said earlier, the manifestation of backward ignorance and superstitious dogma, believed in only by very simple and uneducated people who know no better than to worship myths and nonsense.
I am intelligent and forward-looking enough to know that both the Bible and the Koran are works of fiction and, as I said earlier, the manifestation of backward ignorance and superstitious dogma, believed in only by very simple and uneducated people who know no better than to worship myths and nonsense.
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