Fury at Hebdo cartoon in class
AN angry crowd gathers outside a school’s gates after the Charlie Hebdo cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad was used in a lesson.
Several police officers attended to the “disturbance” yesterday as protesters, including community leaders, obstructed cars.
The religious studies teacher who showed the image to students has been suspended. Pupils at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire were advised to stay home until later on in the day.
The protest erupted after a message was circulated on social media. It led to calls for the resignation of the teacher involved.
Hours later police read out a statement of apology from the head teacher Mr Gary Kibble, who also held a meeting with an imam.
His statement said: “The school unequivocally apologises for using a totally inappropriate resource in a recent religious studies lesson.
“The member of staff has also given their most sincere apologies.”
ANGER
The cartoon from French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo was shown during ethical discussions about freedom of expression earlier this week.
Twelve people were killed in 2015 at the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris by two men who claimed affiliation to al-Qaeda after the cartoon was first published. Policemen and cartoonists were among the dead.
In an email to parents Mr Kibble accepted the images had the “capacity to cause great offence to members of our community for which we would like to offer a sincere and full apology”.
One parent said: “This image is so offensive and there is no way it should have been part of the curriculum.”
But another added: “As a Muslim I found this pathetic. Why scream and shout over everything. Just tell the teacher it wasn’t that good of an idea, politely educate and move on.”
The National Secular Society insisted: “Teachers must have a reasonable degree of freedom to explore sensitive subjects.”
This image is offensive and should not be on curriculum
PARENT PROTESTING THE USE OF CARTOON