MADRID - 23 October 2006 - 160 words
Spanish
schools to use textbook on Islam
Dan Bergin
The Catholic Church and Muslim leaders have joined forces with the Spanish government to publish a primary school textbook on Islam.
The book: Discovering Islam - was written in Spanish by a Muslim leader and produced by the Catholic publishing house SM.
Spain has about a million Muslims, out of a 44 million population. The book is aimed at helping Muslim children learn about their faith and integrate better.
Manuel Lopez, a Spanish government official involved in the project, said that only about 3,500 Muslim six-year-olds were learning about Islam formally in Spanish public schools.
Riay Tatary, the book's author, said the Madrid region still offered no classes in Islam, despite thousands of requests for it to do so.
Spain's director-general of religious affairs, Mercedes Rico, said the book "responds to the aim of normalising the right of parents for their children to receive the religious education they want".
For more information see: http://www.ucide.org/es/
© Independent Catholic
News 2006
Contact Independent
Catholic News
tel/fax: +44 (0)20 7267 3616 or email
Chaplain • Latest news • Archive • Listings • Pictures •