Faith

A Muslim Scout group in Reading

The 102nd Reading Muslim Scout Group, which was founded at the end of last month, is hoping to launch Beaver and Cub Scout groups in May. It is also looking to set up a group for older children by the end of 2006.

Some may feel however that a separate scout group for Muslims is a step back from community integration. We speak to Group Scout Leader Omair Zaman and Geoffrey Mitchell of Berkshire Scouts to find out more.

Why is there a need for a separate Muslim scout group?

Omair: "If you look in Berkshire alone there is over 7,500 adults and children involved in scouting and you can probably count a handful of those that are Muslim. I don't know any myself who are involved that are Muslim, so there is a need for it because scouting is a world-wide organisation in over 216 countries and territories. A third of those involved in scouting world-wide are actually Muslim, but that's not reflected in the UK and in Berkshire. So that's a reason for them to feel more comfortable to come along and involve them in this organisation."

The core issue though is that there seems to have been 'a need' to set up a separate Muslim group.

Geoffrey: "You've got to remember that this is a world-wide organisation in which there is 28 million people joined by common promise which is essentially duty to others, duty to self and duty to God and what we're reaching out to is engaging different faith communities in Reading, there are a variety of scout groups attached to different faith organisations and this is another one.

"You could say in the last 99 years that it started as a multi-faith organisation. At the first world scout jamboree which was way before I was born there were people from different faiths. The scouts was started by Baden Powell and he was very keen to ensure that all faiths were represented."

So maybe it's a perception thing?

Omair: "There is a perception out there among the Muslim community and that's the reason the Reading Muslim scout group has come about. That's the reason why we have an open day so that Muslims and non-Muslims within the Reading community can come together, learn about scouting in general also how scouting will fit in with the general Muslim culture and their religion."

If there are Muslims who feel marginalised by society, won't having a separate scout troop will further the marginalisation? It's not about integration is it, it's the opposite...

Omair: "As a Muslim myself we believe that we need to interact with wider society so we're not about isolating ourselves. One of the main reasons for this group is that it's open to anyone. Obviously it's going to attract the Muslims rather than the wider community, but anyone can come to the open day to learn more about it. We're going to be interacting with other scout groups, twinning up with another scout group maybe in another country or in another county and we'll be interacting with them on a continual basis."

Is there a scout group for Roman Catholics, or Jews?

Geoffrey Mitchell and Omair Zaman

Geoffrey: "There are, certainly I don't know every one of the 100-plus scout groups in Berkshire but certainly in Reading there's a troop that's attached to the Church of the Latterday Saints, Baptist chapels, the Roman Catholic church, and there has been in the past a group attached to the Sikh community.

Do you find that those faith groups attract people from other faiths to join?

Geoffrey: "I used to be an adult leader directly associated with a scout troop and within that troop there were people from a variety of faiths including someone from the Islamic faith, someone from the Sikh faith, as well as a variety of others.

"In Berkshire there is something like 300-odd sections meeting every week and any particular scout group is part of this huge community, so every month there are activities across Berkshire where groups come together. These may be outdoor activities, expeditions, adults come together for training. This year there is an expedition going to Spain for all scouts across Berkshire so there's plenty of opportunity for engagement.

"What this group is concerned about is providing an environment in which young people and their parents feel safe and comfortable with and from there we can develop engagement."

Do you think Baden Powell would have wanted separate groups?

Geoffrey: "We all are in one big world-wide family joined by a common promise.

Omair: "Rather than saying this is a very negative thing I think it's very positive and it's just another channel for the Muslim community especially Muslim youngsters to interact with wider society."