Every school in England could be sent free copies of the Koran, Michael Gove has said.
The Education Secretary said it would be “fantastic” if a rich benefactor would support sending out copies of the Islamic holy text to schools.
Mr Gove has been an enthusiastic supporter of a current privately-funded scheme to send copies of the King James’ Bible to every state primary and secondary school in England.
Last week thousands of the books were sent out to mark the book’s 400th anniversary.
Asked in a radio interview if he would “consider sending out other important texts like the Koran”, he said: “Well if people wanted to put forward proposals to me, philanthropists or others, for distributing great books to school then fantastic.”
He told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “I think the King James Bible is specifically important because it was the root of so many important changes in the life of this nation.
Around 24,000 Bibles are being distributed to schools by the Government, with the inscription “Presented by the Secretary of State for Education”.
Mr Gove has supported the scheme because he wants school children to be able to appreciate the literary heritage of the King James’ Bible.
He said he had received “hundreds of letters” from head masters and head mistresses who were “absolutely delighted” to receive the books.
He said: “I visited a school just last week which had just received its bible that day and the head teacher thought that it was, and it is, a beautiful thing.”
Mr Gove said the cost of sending out the bibles had been borne by a “variety of philanthropists”, some Tory and Liberal Democrat donors, as well as “one person who would never support a political party but thought it was a good idea”.
Later aides to Mr Gove later played down suggestions that he was keen for a mass mail-out of Korans to schools. One source said Mr Gove was trying to emphasise how he wanted more schools to have access to great historical texts, like the Koran and other holy scriptures.
The third official translation of the Bible into English, known as the Authorised Version, was commissioned by the King James I in 1604 and published in 1611. It became the Church of England’s official version and was spread worldwide by the British Empire.
It also brought phrases such as ‘stumbling block’, ‘at their wits end’, ‘bottomless pit’, ‘born again’, ‘eye for an eye’ and ‘scapegoat’ to the English language.
I’m sure if mr Grove asks the saudi’s they’ll happerly send along a few million copys of the Koran. They’ll send along a few Whabbi Imams with them if Mr Grove wants.
The koran that is authorised for use in schools is a watered down version. A true version read in the correct way, explaining the text would never be allowed. Reading the Koran properly to non muslims is hate speech. You have to convert to hear the true message of Islam.
If the Koran was spread around to school kids it would cause a war. Every copy would have drawings of hearts with arrows through them, and half the pages torn out.
I think it would be a good idea to send Mr grove a proper copy of the koran so he can read for himself what is inside the covers of this hate manual. I would send him my copy, but he’d never read it.
Although it might make a point if a few hundred people would send him a copy as a protest.
When will our so called leaders learn you can’t pander to islam, you should educate yourself about it. All Mr grove has shown is how ignorate he is on the subject.
He wouldn’t advocate that Mien Kampf was given out to school children, and lets not forget Its Illegal to hand out Bibles in islamic countries.
I say No more Korans, No more Mosques, no more imams, and no more islam in this country.
This prick is the cause of nutters burning down schools that would accept that fkn war manual!!!
Sounds good to me. Could be really handy when schools run out of bog roll….lol. Our MPs don’represent us.
I’ve got for him. ”The Sword of The Prophet”, by Serge Trefkovic. (I’ll bet my military pension he don’t send THAT book. Twat.