The
European Convention on Human Rights has been signed by both the UK and Sweden
as well as other European states, providing legal justification for
accommodating the educational needs of religious minorities. This legal
entitlement is explored in the paper with particular reference to parental
choice for separate schools based on an Islamic ethos. How the UK and Sweden
have responded to accommodate the religious convictions of Muslim families is
the focus of discussion, drawing on historical and policy backgrounds. The
paper also draws on the theoretical work of Kumashiro and the concept of
‘Education for the Other’, examining the positioning of minority groups within
the broad context of a multicultural society and the challenge of accommodating
religious convictions in a climate of increasing support for cultural assimilation.