Oxford don blasts Muslim parents for "importing creationism" into UK schools
4 Aug 2008, 1238 Hrs

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London, Aug.4 (ANI): Oxford Professor and well-known atheist Richard Dawkins has criticised parents of Muslim children and the Government for accommodating religious views and allowing creationism to be taught in schools.

The Telegraph quoted Professor Dawkins as saying in a Sunday newspaper interview that: "Teachers are bending over backwards to respect home prejudices that children have been brought up with. The Government could do more, but it doesn't want to because it is fanatical about multiculturalism and the need to respect the different traditions from which these children come."

Dawkins, a professor for the public understanding of science at Oxford University, is author of books including the Selfish Gene, the Blind Watchmaker and the God Delusion.

He said science was being threatened in classrooms because the Government accepts that theories including "intelligent design" can be discussed "in the context of being one of a range of views on evolution."

"It seems as though teachers are terribly frightened of being thought racist. It's almost impossible to say anything against Islam in this country, because [if you do] you are accused of being racist or Islamophobic."

Dawkins said the failure in classrooms meant religious fanatics had a chance to get hold.

"I think we have all been brought up to give too much respect to religion, as opposed to any other kind of opinion," he said. (ANI)