An alarm over alleged material promoting homosexuality being taught at private schools in the kingdom has been raised again by MPs.
Parliament yesterday called for immediate action against places of learning where the subject has become a part of the curricula, studies, examinations or placed within other educational material.
Parliament financial and economic affairs committee chairman Mohammed Al Ahmed waived a printout of an examination paper in English without clarifying what its contents contained, but said matters were ‘getting out of hand in the name of so-called acceptance and tolerance’.
“Homosexuality is an alienated thought and act that is not tolerated by religions, beliefs, norms or traditions and is unacceptable in any way or form,” he said.
“Things have crossed the line as private schools are teaching the idea of acceptance and tolerance of this despicable ideology in curricula, studies, exams and other educational material.”
He said private schools come under the Education Ministry and the material being taught ought to be reviewed and any found to be in violation of agreed standards and regulations should result in disciplinary action being taken.
“The deconstructive idea of normalising homosexuality has to be combated and serious action is necessary,” he added.
The comments were made as MPs unanimously approved a reply to the speech of His Majesty King Hamad at the opening of the National Assembly’s first session of the sixth legislative term last month.
His Majesty directed the authorities to step up measures to ensure more prosperity and a brighter future for Bahrainis, as reported in the GDN.
During his address, he added: “We will adopt only what will gain the consensus of all, so that our country, with the help of God and the determination of its sons and daughters, stands as a solid structure in the face of any intellectual invasion that contradicts the values of our tolerant Islamic law and human nature.”
Similar concerns on homosexuality have been raised by Shura Council members during a debate on their own reply on Sunday.
The GDN also reported last month that a private school had removed all photographs from social media related to a school event it organised following a wave of protests from people concerned over online coverage of the event.
Complaints were made of alleged ‘immoral acts’ being promoted at the non-curricular event. The ministry said that an extensive investigation had been carried out and although it did not consider the event ‘in its entirety’ promoted ‘wrongdoing’ it felt it appropriate for the unnamed school to remove coverage to avoid any misinterpretation.
Images circulating on the school’s Instagram account raised alarm and were highlighted in the Arab media. Some pupils were photographed wearing rainbow motifs on their T-shirts, a symbol that many believe has been hijacked by the gay pride movement when for generations it simply symbolised success, hope and good fortune, was often used as a charitable symbol and was even the title of a popular British TV children’s programme which ran for 15 seasons.
During discussions on Parliament’s reply, MPs focused on social welfare, unemployment and supporting children of Bahraini mothers.
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