Madam, – As an Irish citizen who has had the honour of living and working in Saudi Arabia (2000-2007), I welcome the prospect of a Saudi secondary school in Ireland. I am however concerned that this agreeable disclosure has given rise to acrimony and hostility from certain quarters.
For example, Peter Thompson (December 14th) argues, among other things, against the prospect of a school based on the pretext of reciprocation, yet conveniently overlooks the needs of Irish Muslim children who desire nothing less than their constitutional right to an education based on an Islamic ethos.
Far from the rigidity and dogmatism that has been levelled against them, the Saudis have demonstrated remarkable flexibility and innovation in many areas, including education. Indeed, when shortcomings and concerns were pointed out in the religious curriculum, the Saudi government acted decisively and swiftly.
It would be a shame to allow the deliberate distortions of a minority of hard-line secularists to forestall what for many Muslims in Ireland has been a long cherished dream. – Yours, etc,