Compulsory peace

Via USS Neverdock, the Adventuress and LGF I find this piece at a blog called David's Daily Diversions which claims of a GCSE Islam exam.

The exam board [OCR] requires that every time Muhammad is written, the letters "pbuh" in parentheses be placed after it. This is shorthand for "peace be upon him". The writer therefore prays a blessing upon him everytime his name is written, as is the custom of Muslims. So I have to tell my students (over and over if there is any hope of them remembering) that they must bless Muhammad every time they mention his name.

Which is quite amazing, if true.

One of the comments jolted me a bit too:

So you're just going to grumble to everyone you know (and don't know) but still do what you're told? How English of you[...]. You should consider some American
options:
(a) Ignore the rule, and if anyone complains, tell them to **** off.
(b) Openly flout the rule, and tell them to **** off.
(c) Complain to
every media outlet you can think of.
(d) Sue.

And he's absolutely right. One of the things which always bugs me about Brits is that we grumble but rarely do anything. (Although having said that point d is out because the government has got all of our money).

Anyway. Consider this blogger jolted into action - do what Daily Ablution would do and email them:

Dear Sir

OCR GCSE Exam

I chanced upon this article on the internet http://www.holford.org.uk/mt/archives/000646.html
which states that:"The exam board requires that every time Muhammad is
written, the letters"pbuh" in parentheses be placed after it. This is shorthand
for "peace beupon him". The writer therefore prays a blessing upon him everytime
his nameis written, as is the custom of Muslims. So I have to tell my students
(overand over if there is any hope of them remembering) that they must bless
Muhammadevery time they mention his name."

This now seems to be attracting a considerable amount of attention on the internet. I was wondering if the board intends to issue a press release to confirm if this ssertion is correct and if it is to explain the thinking that lay behind it.

Thank you for your attention.

I will let you know if anything comes back from them.