http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Salmond-backs-plans-for-Islamic.4095303.jp
SCOTLAND'S first state-funded Islamic school could get the go-ahead
within months after First Minister Alex Salmond declared he was
"sympathetic" towards the controversial move.
Campaigners are planning to submit a detailed proposal for the faith
school to Glasgow City Council within two months and officials last
night confirmed they would consult on the proposal.
But former Scottish education minister Sam Galbraith condemned the move
as a "retrograde step", arguing that it would be bad for the Muslim
community by hindering integration.
Scotland has around 43,000 Muslims, about 18,000 of them in Glasgow.
While there are more than 100 Islamic schools south of the border, both
private and state-supported, Scottish Muslims have so far failed to
establish a faith school and some in the community question whether it
is a good idea in an age of increased ethnic and religious tension.
Scotland has more than 400 publicly funded Roman Catholic schools as
well as three state-supported Scottish Episcopalian schools and a
publicly funded Jewish school.