Muslim boys’ school that had ‘extremist’ books in the library

A LIBRARY in a Muslim boys’ school was found to have ‘extremist’ books on its shelves – including one text supporting the creation of Islamic states.

The ‘inappropriate’ literature displayed at Jamia Islamia Birmingham could be ‘accessed easily’ by pupils, Ofsted inspectors said.

One book stated on its front page: ‘Don’t make the Jews and the Christians your friends’, while inside it set out a series of aims including ‘to help the Taliban government in the accomplishment of enforcement of Shari’ah in Afghanistan’.

It also said ‘to struggle for the creation of Islamic states in which the Islamic canons will enforced practically [sic]’.

Other literature at the £1,800-a-year independent school in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, contained ‘ misogynistic messages’ and condoned using a cane to punish children, inspectors found.

In its report, Ofsted warned that the books sat ‘alongside contemporary fiction on the library shelves’ – which boys aged 11 to 19 can visit daily. It said the texts were ‘actively undermining fundamental British values’ and not compliant with the Equality Act 2010. School leaders told the watchdog they were ‘unaware’ of the texts’ existence – but they were stamped with the school’s name.

Inspectors rated the Islamic school, which has 132 pupils, as ‘inadequate’ in all six areas including effectiveness of leadership and quality of teaching. The grade was lower than at the previous inspection in 2017, when the school was rated as ‘requires improvement’.

The new report raised concerns over the curriculum, which it deemed ‘ poorly designed and too narrow’, and parts of the school buildings. It said they ‘are very damp and in places the floor carpet becomes saturated when it rains’.

Ofsted also noted that pupils ‘lack confidence when speaking, often use simple sen

‘Basic failure to protect pupils’

tences’ and have ‘ a very limited understanding of current affairs’. Inspectors said the school committed a ‘basic failure to protect pupils’ by displaying ‘inappropriate extremist material’ in its library.

In a statement, Jamia Islamia Birmingham said it was surprised at the existence of a pamphlet found by Ofsted and that the text was removed immediately. It added that all extremist literature had now been taken out of the library, with the help of an external specialist consultant, and records showed that ‘ no student has ever borrowed the pamphlet in question’.

The statement said the books may have been donated when the school opened 18 years ago and that the material had not been bought.