I hope that interest-free loans, if they are introduced, will be available to non-Muslim students. Otherwise they will be in the position of subsidizing the education of Muslim students out of their own loan payments. From The Guardian, with thanks to Nicolei:
Pressure is mounting on the Department of Education and Skills to provide a Muslim-friendly student loan.Representatives of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies met with the education secretary, Charles Clarke, last week to discuss the problem, which affects students and their families who believe that taking out a student loan contravenes Islamic sharia law.
The law dictates that Muslims should not pay or receive interest on loans.
However, the Muslim community is split over whether student loans, which incur inflation-only levels of interest, are against sharia law. Student activists say that some Muslims are being asked to break their faith or forgo the opportunity for financial assistance during their studies.
The meeting follows new moves towards providing alternatives to suit Muslim families in the commercial sector. The HSBC bank has set up a Muslim-friendly mortgage and pension scheme which satisfies the demands of sharia law.
Hasan Salim Patel, of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said representatives were given a clear message from the education secretary that the DFES would consider any alternatives to the traditional student loan which were put before it. ...
A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills said: "We appreciate the Muslim position on borrowing. But, it is important to remember that student loans do not incur a real rate of interest and the government does not make any profit out of these loans. The uptake of student loans amongst Muslim students compares favourably with other groups.
"We have no plans to introduce different loans for different groups but we are working closely with the Federation of Student Islamic Societies on other ways forward on this."
I have read about other "interest free" Muslim loans. If you want to buy a 150,000, you agree to pay 215,000 divided into 12 payments a year for 15 years. Works out the same as paying 5% over 15 years. It is a farce and they are really paying interest.
For Muslims to be given "interst free" student loans they would have to be charged more for their education and then allowed to pay over time. Can't see that happening. It's one thing to negotiate for a house; education has to have a fixed price tag.
If they do get interest free loans on the same education cost you are right, Mr. Spencer, it would be absurd.
This could be done privately through a Muslim bank. They can jack up the price of tuition and give the students "interest free" loans.
It is well known that the idea of 'no interest' loans is just another Islamic lie. The reality was shown in the Atlantic Magazine some time back, if you can believe that.
This is just another shot in the Sharia wars and must be defeated
And my religion states that education should be shared freely, as such, I should not have to pay anything.
Meeting scheduled with Secretary Clarke next week to discuss issues.
Absolute BS! That Clarke actually met with these whining idiots is disgusting.
Taking another approach, would banks in the U.K. be allowed to not pay any accrued interest to Muslims holding accounts, but instead to simply regard their service as one of "safekeeping" of Muslims' money, on the Shari'a-based theory that the receipt of interest, as much as the giving of it, would constitute a grievous affront to Muslim sensibilities?
And should this exemption from the payment of interest on student loans actualy go through (the mere raising of it is telling enough about Muslim intentions, Muslim aggressiveness and sheer impudence), then banks in the U.K. would be justifiably leery of lending money to Muslims for businesses or home-buying, because those Muslims mightlater claim an exemption, similar to the claim reported in this story, from the need to pay interest. And if the banks do not lend the money, and are taken to task or to court, surely they can plead a justifiable business reason for their actions. Really, could anyone blame them?
If used as an instrument of anti-Jihad, the Muslim injunction, according to the Shari'a, neither to give, nor to receive, interest, could be employed by non-Muslims in order to constrain Muslim economic activity and wealth in the Lands of the Infidels, and hence make them less attractive for Muslim settlement.
Easy solution:
No interest loan. Instead, the government garnishes 50% (or some similar number) from the students future wages. In perpetuity.
Government pays for your education; you sell the gov't your future income stream. No interest, right?
If they don't like it, or don't get a job that pays enough, instant deportation. If they're citizens, and don't get a job, no welfare payments.
David
Another giant step for muslims and another giant boot in the ass for all the rest.
David, they'll probably end up garnishing their wages anyway......for if they took loans out on their word, they're likely to default....
Another special privilege demanded and granted to an immigrant group. How is it that everyone is mesmerized by these people?
Suggestion: If they way Sharia sensitive loads let them go back to an Islamic country and TRY to get them there. In any case get them the hell out f the UK and the US. Either live by OUR laws and customs or for back to the loving arms of the Mullahs.