Muslim scout volunteer drive criticised
15 May 2010
Plans to recruit more Muslim volunteers to the scouting movement have come under attack from secular campaigners.
Currently, there are 24 Muslim Scout groups in the UK and the Scouts Association says more adults are needed to cut long waiting lists.
But the National Secular Society, which campaigns to reduce the role of religion in public life, say such groups are "sectarian".
It says they reinforce a perception UK Muslims are outside the mainstream.
Honesty
The Scouts Association has traditionally had strong links to several different faith groups in the UK, with churches and synagogues providing practical and financial support for local groups.
It said this allowed communities to use the scouting ethos as a template to instill broad religious values such as honesty and integrity into young people.
But the National Secular Society said separating young people on the basis of religious belief discouraged integration.
The society said although they wanted to see an end to all ties between religion and the scouts, they were particularly concerned about Muslim scout groups.
Of the 28 million scouts around the world, there are more Muslims than Christians.
The Scout Association hopes its campaign to recruit more volunteers will help to address a waiting list of more than 33,000 UK children who want to join the movement.
Membership in the UK has risen for five consecutive years, taking levels to nearly 500,000.
comment:
It's sad (for them) how they have a problem with Muslims no matter what or where we do anything.