Toon fury teacher is backed by Muslim pal
THE teacher in the Prophet Muhammad cartoon row has always shown “great respect” to Islam, his Muslim neighbour has said.
The lesson in which Year 9 pupils at Batley Grammar School,West Yorkshire, were shown a cartoon of the prophet, has led to death threats.
An unnamed religious studies teacher is in hiding with his wife and young children over the cartoon, which first appeared in French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
But dad-of-three Jamal Al-Terk, 42, who has known the “burly Yorkshire lad” in his 20s for eight years, said: “He is not Islamophobic at all. This has to be a misunderstanding.
Suspended
“I doubt he has shown this deliberately to offend. He and his family, they knock on our door and give us Eid cards when it’s Eid.
“His children have also drawn pictures of a beautiful mosque with lights around it and given them to my kids.
“They also gave us halal sweets for Eid, and we have exchanged food during Ramadan. His children play with my children.”
The airport worker, who fled the civil war in Syria, added: “I hope things calm down and people realise he is a nice person.”
Last week angry Muslim parents called for the teacher to be sacked. He was suspended and head Gary Kibble issued an “unequivocal” apology.
Ministers and celebrities condemned the protesters and a petition backing the teacher has been signed by over 50,000 people.
The threats continued last week with his name leaked on social media.