In response to the letter titled "Children and sex education" (The Jakarta Post, June 26), I objected to the fact that Muslim parents in London have been threatened with prosecution for removing their children from school as an act of protest. Those parents objected on religious grounds to the school indoctrinating their children about homosexuality, which in Islam is forbidden and considered a very serious sin.

In my analogy about Christmas, I wondered what would happen if those Muslims parents wanted to expose the truth about Christmas as a "cultural event" at the school. Would Christian parents also face prosecution if they objected and removed their children from the school? (I forgot that "public school" in the UK means a private school. But if the school in question is not a state school, then why is the local council threatening prosecution? Why is it any of their business?)

About Santa Claus, there are psychological effects of being lied to by your parents about Christmas. I remember very well when my brother told me that Santa Claus was not real and showed me the presents that were hidden in our parents' bedroom. I was completely devastated and never enjoyed Christmas again after that. And I also never fully trusted my parents again either.

My Christmas analogy had no relationship with the historical existence of Saint Nicholas or the wonderful act of giving presents to friends and family. My point (which may have been misunderstood) is that religious issues have perpetually divided communities for thousands of years. When confronted with issues that go against parents' religious beliefs, then I completely disagree that any school has the right to overturn or ignore the parents' wishes, or that the local council should have the right to prosecute parents who object.

The facts surrounding Christmas are not accepted by Muslims, and so does that mean that Muslim parents should have the right to tell other people's children about it? Absolutely not! Therefore, the school should also not have the right to tell Muslim children about homosexuality.

Any number of other issues could be just as disruptive. In such a case, any parents should have the supreme right to object to what is taught to their children, and if necessary remove them from the class or school for a certain period.

Teachers are required to act "in loco parentis" (in the place of a parent), but never as a replacement for the parents. Parents should always maintain the absolute right to know and approve of what is taught to their own children by anyone else.

Is there a list of issues that parents are not permitted to object to, either on religious grounds or for any other reason? Are there any other parents from any other minority groups who have been threatened with prosecution by local councils for upholding their religious beliefs?

Or does the threat of prosecution only apply when Muslim parents object to something? Accepting and respecting other people means that we also accept their right to disagree with us, so who is really being intolerant here: devout Muslim parents, or the local council?

Gene Netto

Jakarta

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