Harrow Council in London has provoked a storm of protest after announcing plans to prefer Islamic halal-only menus in the borough’s state primary schools. Parents are outraged that meat prepared according to Islamic Sharia law is being pushed on non-Muslim children. Contracts signed with the Council’s preferred catering company, Harrison’s, stipulate that only halal meat is served. The Council claims the plan is needed to overcome difficulties in keeping halal meat separate from non-halal meat. It has since said it will postpone the move because of, in part, ‘the level of interest from parents’ and revisit the issue in the autumn. According to the 2001 census, the religious affiliation of Harrow’s population is just seven per cent Muslim. Harrow resident, Sheila Murphy, blasted the Council’s plan as ‘appalling’. She said it is ‘taking away the choice of children and their parents over what meat they eat and I urge residents to make their views known to Harrow Council’.

Pray: for the council to reflect the views of the vast majority of their residents. (Ac.10:14-15)

More: http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2010/08/10/halal-only-menu-for-london-primary-schools-sparks-row/