The other week, in the MSM, it was reported the Scottish government had requested the return of £128,000 from the £400,000 grant given earlier in the year to the Scottish Islamic Foundation. The funding, I understand, was given towards the organisation of an event called Islamfest which was intended to bring Islam and other cultures together.
At the time there was some consternation about the issue of this funding but little was said about it on the blogosphere and it was died a death.
However it has reared its head again and a popular blog called Harry's Place has a guest post solely about this foundation.
Perhaps the Scottish government won't be so hasty in donating public money until they see a professional business plan in future. I wonder what was done with the remaining £272,000? Surely it hasn't all been spent on their classy website which has no mention of being partly funded by the Scottish government.
I'm always suspicious of organisations which receive public money and aren't transparent about it. Maybe it just slipped their minds and it will appear on their website in the not too distant future.
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There is a very real chance that for raising this issue you will be called racist.
I expect so JPT, but it's an issue that is being talked about elsewhere in the blogosphere. We can't ignore it up here.
There have been a lot of FOI requests regarding the Islamic Foundation funding to the Scottish Government already. If you want to go through the info already released under FOI then it's on this page on the Scotland against Racism site.
Many thanks for the link Dug. The post isn't about race it's about the use of public money.
The post isn't about race it's about the use of public money
I understand that Subrosa but if you search for financial information about the Islamic Foundation on the Scottish Government web-site that's where the link in the results about FOI takes you. The "Scotland against Racism" site is a government site and they've put the FOI information about the Islamic Foundation on it for some reason.
I don't think any government should be funding faiths, lets face it if i were in the Church of Scotland i would be asking what about us ?
Although the Scottish government were acting in good faith (pardon the pun) some others could perceive this as something else, we only have to look towards the SNP candidate Osama something.
Dear Subrosa
I think that Osama Saeed has more problems that just cash.
He has a website called Rolled up Trousers, which is his blog.
The bulk of his input centres around one concept racial issues.
As an SNP Candidate for Glasgow Central; I would expect him to demonstrate a more wider view of society and the issues facing it.
There are a few other titbits but looking at it in the round, unimpressive.
From what I see he doesn't even mention the community that he seeks to get elected to serve.
That is very disappointing and I am sure that I am not the first to notice this.
Finally; if I had authority; I would audit the SIF to find out what they have been up to.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
I've read most of it Dug. Interesting so many organisations get money for similar reasons. That surprised me.
From the correspondence put up the government appear to have handled everything by the book. It seems the money was given for something the organisation promised but didn't deliver.
In many ways I agree with you Spook but the problem is were these courses etc aimed at British born muslims or not. If they were British born then society in general, including our education system, is letting these people down.
Mind you, if we allow faith schools then the children within will learn the culture of the faith rather than the country as well.
It would appear it has been audited George or the SG wouldn't have demanded the return of the money. The money was given for a specific purpose. (See Dug's links).
The SIF are now asking for donations on their website and Facebook page. That is the way they should go and not expect public money to fund everything.
One wee bit I did notice when looking through Dug's links is that Glasgow council were to be involved, along with the SG, in a 50/50 setup for some donation.
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