New school storm over picture of Mohammed

Primary teacher showed image in assembly ‘to celebrate Prophet’s birthday’ (and even got date wrong)

A HEAD teacher has apologised after an image of the Prophet Mohammed was mistakenly shown to children during a junior school assembly.

Showing pictures of the Prophet is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims and there are fears the incident could escalate with protests outside the school or demands that teachers are sacked.

Michael Watson, head teacher at the Sheffield primary, issued ‘heartfelt apologies’ for the ‘deep hurt’ caused and promised an inquiry.

He said the incident during an assembly to celebrate the children’s achievements during the holy month of Ramadan was down to ‘a mistake’. But parent Atif Mohammed, 35, who is

‘Shown such blatant ignorance’

temporarily keeping his two children off school over the incident, said some parents were considering a protest next week because he feared the authorities were ‘trying to brush it under the carpet’.

‘I’m so disappointed by the school,’ he said. ‘They are meant to educate and they’ve shown such blatant ignorance.’

Parents said a senior member of staff at Hunter’s Bar Junior School in Sheffield was conducting the assembly via Zoom and wished the Prophet happy birthday while talking about Islam. A picture depicting the Prophet was shown to the children at this point.

In fact, Mohammed’s birthday is observed in October.

Yesterday most parents collecting their children were supportive of the school and the head. Muslim leaders urged parents to accept the apology.

Mr Watson said he understood how offensive it was ‘to our Muslim community’ to show a picture of the Prophet. ‘I offer my heartfelt apologies for the upset caused.

‘I have been meeting and working with the children, parents and staff affected alongside other members of the Muslim community to do what we can to put this right.’

He said a ‘formal investigation’ would be held to ‘establish findings and actionable recommendations’. The school with 350 pupils aged 7 to 11 was rated outstanding at the last Ofsted inspection in 2018.

The Federation of Mosques in Sheffield said it understood the image shown to the school was not a cartoon. In a statement to the Muslim community, the federation said the school was ‘asking for help to rectify the mistake’, adding: ‘We see no benefit in external elements getting involved in our city and raising issues. We ask you to accept the apology and let them complete the inquiry.’

In March Muslim parents protested outside Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire after a cartoon of Mohammed was shown to a class. The teacher involved had to flee his home. Politicians criticised protesters for making threats and campaigners backed the teacher’s right to free speech.