CLASS ACTION
Parents’ protests over Prophet Mohammed cartoon shown to kids in class are ‘completely unacceptable’, says Education Sec
GAVIN Williamson has slammed protests by parents after their kids were shown a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed in school.
The Education Secretary condemned the "threats and intimidation" against the teacher who is now reportedly in hiding.
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The 29-year-old has been suspended after showing pupils the satirical drawing from French magazine Charlie Hebdo of the Muslim prophet in a Religious Education class.
It's emerged overnight that he and his young family have gone into hiding and are being protected by cops after he was named by local charity Purpose of Life, which accused him of "sadistic behaviour".
Neighbours who called the keen amateur rugby league player a "good, burly Yorkshire lad" say they haven't seen him in a couple of days.
It comes after furious parents gathered outside Batley Grammar School in Batley, West Yorkshire, on Thursday forcing teachers to advise students to stay at home.
Mr Williamson called the patents' actions "completely unacceptable."
He said: "It is never acceptable to threaten or intimidate teachers.
"We encourage dialogue between parents and schools when issues emerge.
'COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE'
"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."
“Schools are free to include a full range of issues, ideas and materials in their curriculum, including where they are challenging or controversial, subject to their obligations to ensure political balance.
"They must balance this with the need to promote respect and tolerance between people of different faiths and beliefs, including in deciding which materials to use in the classroom.”
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This comes after teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded last October by an Islamist terrorist in France after showing his pupils a cartoon of the prophet.
In a letter to parents, Batley headmaster Gary Kibble, offered a “sincere and full apology" adding the picture shown was “completely inappropriate”.
Yet, the apology did not deter dozens of parents gathering outside the school on Thursday demanding that the teacher be sacked.
School bosses held a meeting with a local Imam before suspending the teacher.
A senior police source told that the teacher and his family were receiving protection from cops in a safe location after his suspension.
Then insider said: "Officers have been especially assigned to him.
"This is obviously very sensitive. Local Muslims are up in arms and the teacher has not apologised.
"There is obviously significant risk around the individual now."
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Three officers could be seen guarding the school's front gate Thursday while at least four more cops were patrolling inside the premises.
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In September last year, seven people were detained after a meat cleaver attack outside Charlie Hebdo's former offices in Paris.
Twelve people were massacred at the site in 2015 after the magazine published satirical cartoons of Mohammed.