A British cabinet minister has said the UK “shouldn’t have teachers feeling intimidated” after protestors gathered outside a school where an image of Mohammed was shown to a group of students.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said protestors were “not right” to gather outside the school where police are now maintaining a presence.
The controversy arose in the West Yorkshire school of Batley Grammar after a religion teacher showed students an image of Mohammed, something Muslims consider highly blasphemous.
Mr. Jenrick called reports that the teacher in question has gone into hiding “very disturbing.”
“That is not a road we want to go down in this country so I would strongly urge people concerned about this issue not to do that (intimidate teachers),” he told Sky News.
The school has suspended the religion teacher. as principal Gary Kibble offered his apologies for the incident.
“The school unequivocally apologises for using a totally inappropriate image in a recent religious studies lesson. It should not have been used,” Kibble said.
“A member of staff has also relayed their most sincere apologies.”
CEO of the Ramadhan Foundation Mohammed Shafiq said the display was a “despicable attack on our faith.”
“Our hearts are pained to know a teacher working with 70% Muslim pupils didn’t consider the hurt this would cause,” he said.
In a move Shafiq said “amplified divisions”, the Department of Education called the demonstrations “completely unacceptable”, saying protestors were threatening and intimidating teachers.
“It is never acceptable to threaten or intimidate teachers. We encourage dialogue between parents and schools when issues emerge.
“However, the nature of protest we have seen, including issuing threats and in violation of coronavirus restrictions are completely unacceptable and must be brought to an end.”
The controversy comes after French teacher Samuel Paty was killed for displaying an image of Mohammed to students in a school outside Paris last October.
Robert Jenrick tells @DanielHewittITV he is "deeply troubled by the suggestion that a teacher conducting a religious studies class should have material censored" and tells people protesting outside Batley Grammar School to "go home". https://t.co/wy4uI43aJJ pic.twitter.com/Q7gBIdZSD3
— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) March 26, 2021