Prophet cartoon teacher defended lesson in telephone call to father of Muslim pupil

THE teacher at the centre of a row about showing cartoons of Mohammed to pupils “defended his right to free speech” in a heated telephone call with a Muslim parent, it has been reported.

The religious studies teacher, who is currently hiding in fear for his safety, allegedly showed a caricature taken from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to pupils at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire. Images of the Prophet offend Muslims and parents and members of the Muslim community have been protesting outside the school last week.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick described reports that the teacher was in hiding as “disturbing”, and a petition to have him reinstated has been signed by more than 36,500 people.

It has now emerged that the teacher spoke to the father of a Muslim pupil at the school. According to Mail Online, he telephoned the irate father, who had called the school and left a message to speak to him.

The teacher said that British values allowed him to present a cartoon of the Prophet to year-nine students.

He added that he had warned his pupils that some would find it offensive, but his aim was to pose a question to his class. He believed he was “right” to show the cartoon in a discussion on whether the cartoonist was to blame for the terrorist murders committed in France after Charlie Hebdo published it.

In 2015, 12 people, including some of France’s most celebrated cartoonists, were killed when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the publication’s offices in Paris.

The father of the Muslim pupil is reported to have said that the teacher was not apologetic when told that showing the cartoon to his son was offensive.

The teacher asked the father to voice his concerns to another staff member.

In a Whatsapp thread, shared among Islamic parents and protesters who have demonstrated outside the school and seen by Mail Online, the father said: “I expressed I was not happy with his actions and he had caused offence to the community. He should have known better, after all these images caused international outrage.

“He was not apologetic and was arrogant in his response that what he did was right. He stated that he knew some of the pupils would tell their parents.”

The incident comes after Samuel Paty, a teacher in France, was beheaded by an Islamist terrorist in October last year after showing students images of the Prophet Mohammed.

On Friday, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, branded the teacher’s treatment as “unacceptable”, and warned that the police would take action. The school has refused to comment on the specific content of the lesson or whether the images have been shown before.

Baroness Falkner said: “Children’s education should not be disrupted by protests in what has already been a difficult year. The school is taking action and ought to be trusted to do so.

“A teacher’s identity being shared, making them fear for their safety, is simply unacceptable and could result in enforcement action from the police.”

She added: “Schools are places where children learn about ideas, values, difference and respect.”