"Schools rules", says headmaster xavier bower. "Discrimination", says boys' relatives. The news below;

The school says the 14 year olds are breaching its dress code and has placed the boys in isolation, sparking a row with their parents.

The boys’ families claim they are suffering discrimination because beards are a symbol of faith and their religion forbids them to shave.

However, the Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington, Lancashire, has conducted it own research which concludes the boys are not required by the Koran to wear beards, and it is merely their choice. 

Talks between the boys' families, teachers and the Lancashire Council of Mosques, are due to take place today.

A relative of one of the students said: "Because these boys cannot shave their beards for religious reasons, they are being put in isolation for six-and-a-half hours every day. 

"They are not being allowed to mix with anybody or speak to friends. It is pure discrimination. 

"They chose that school because it is within their area and has good results. 

The school has to have an open policy and they have to take in people from all religions."

Abdul Hamid Quereshi, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "The headteacher is co-operating and the school wants to learn about the issue and address them appropriately. 

"Different people have different variations of understanding. 

"Some are newly interacting with the Muslim community and it is our duty not to put people in awkward positions." 

Around a third of the 750 pupils at Mount Carmel are from ethnic minorities, mostly Pakistani, according to the 2012 Ofsted report.

The row echoes ongoing tensions over Muslim girls and women wearing the veil.

Last week the Prime Minister indicated he would support guidelines to judges, teachers and immigration officers telling them when Muslim women can be asked to remove their veils.

http://www.abna.co/data.asp?lang=3&id=469242

if they feel that strongly about Islam what are their kids doing in a Roman catholic school?

F00028: if they feel that strongly about Islam what are their kids doing in a Roman catholic school?

The school was chosen for the performance of its students and they take students from all religions. They shouldn't be in a catholic school though.

If they insist on going to a Catholic School then they just abide by the rules of the school. They were aware before they entered the school what it would entail.