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Our Plans For National Protest Over Newcastle Islamic School

tyneandwear

Published On: 7/1/2013 A.D. - 24/2/1434 H. Visited: 14358 times

The English Defence League has given its reasons for mounting a major demonstration outside the site of a planned Islamic School in Newcastle’s West End.

Alan Spence, the EDL North East regional organiser, says the organisation objects to proposals to turn Benwell Towers, the former setting for TV series Byker Grove, into a faith school for Muslims because it will not “integrate itself in the community”.

He told Sky Tyne and Wear all divisions of the EDL will travel to the region in May for a demonstration.

But race and human rights campaigner Cllr Dipu Ahad, Labour representative for the Elswick Ward on Newcastle City Council, believes the protest will unnecessarily “stir racial hatred in the community”.

The Benwell Towers site has been on the market since 2007 after the BBC stopped filming the popular children's series the previous year.

Proposals to covert the Grade II listed building into a faith school for up to 340 pupils between 11 and 16 were submitted to Newcastle City Council by the BAHR Academy and approved by councillors on Friday December 14.

On its website BAHR says that it hopes to: "provide a model example of education with a distinctive Islamic paradigm."

The new school will be for young people who want to become Islamic scholars and clerics.

Development of the currently empty and run-down site will include a community space, coffee shop and events area which will be open at weekends.

Residents had raised objections about traffic congestion and noise around the site.

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