Muslim Beard Row Boys Now Banned from School

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two Muslim schoolboys barred from classes because they would not shave off their beards have now been sent home from their school

Both 14-year-olds had been placed in "isolation" from the start of the new term at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington, Lancashire.

Talks were held with the families of the two boys to resolve the problem but neither side backed down and the school has now decided the pupils can only return to school when they are clean-shaven.

Headteacher Xavier Bowers has stressed that the matter is not one of religion but about dress code.

In a statement issued today, he said: "At Mount Carmel RC High School, we believe that it's important to be clear about what we expect from students in all aspects of school life, including appearance and uniform. » | News agencies | Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Taliban "Shaving Beards" to Flee Swat: Army
REUTERS: KOTA, Pakistan - Taliban fighters are shaving off their beards and trying to flee from a Pakistani army offensive in their Swat bastion, the military said on Friday, as it relaxed a curfew to allow civilians to get out.

The army launched an offensive in the Swat valley, northwest of Islamabad, last week to stop the spread of Taliban influence which had alarmed the United States and other Western allies of nuclear-armed Pakistan.

More than 900,000 civilians have fled and the United Nations has warned of a humanitarian tragedy unless Pakistan gets massive assistance.

Clashes had erupted in various parts of the region, the military said on Friday, adding it was achieving successes.
It also appealed to civilians to identify Taliban fighters trying to flee.

"We have confirmed reports that these Taliban terrorists, after shaving off their beards and cutting their hair, are fleeing from the area," the military said in a statement.

"We request the people of Swat to identify them," it said, while providing a telephone number for informants to call or send text messages.

Taliban members and supporters usually have long beards and many of them also have long hair. There was no immediate comment from the Taliban about the military's statement. >>> By Junaid Khan | Friday, May 15, 2009

Radio Spreads Taliban’s Terror in Pakistani Region
THE NEW YORK TIMES: PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Every night around 8 o’clock, the terrified residents of Swat, a lush and picturesque valley a hundred miles from three of Pakistan’s most important cities, crowd around their radios. They know that failure to listen and learn might lead to a lashing — or a beheading.

Using a portable radio transmitter, a local Taliban leader, Shah Doran, on most nights outlines newly proscribed “un-Islamic” activities in Swat, like selling DVDs, watching cable television, singing and dancing, criticizing the Taliban, shaving beards and allowing girls to attend school. He also reveals names of people the Taliban have recently killed for violating their decrees — and those they plan to kill.

“They control everything through the radio,” said one Swat resident, who declined to give his name for fear the Taliban might kill him. “Everyone waits for the broadcast.” >>> By Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Pir Zubair Shah | Saturday, January 24, 2009

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