By Gavin Mackintosh-
Students and parents are supporting a teacher in West who was suspended for allegedly showing pupils a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed in his class.
An online petition has been launched to save the teacher’s job after furious Muslim parents call for him to be sacked and protest outside the school despite being condemned by the Government and Covid lockdown rules.
Angry protesters gathered outside Batley Grammar School for a second day on Friday, forcing the school to close at the last minute this morning.
The school’s headteacher Garry Kibble took the decision to put students on online studies after more than 50 protesters turned up at the school gates.
A charity claimed the image was one published by a Danish newspaper about 16 years ago and later republished by Charlie Hebdo.
Twelve people were killed when Islamic terrorists attacked the French satirical magazine in 2015 after printing a cartoon of the Prophet.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said he was “disturbed” by the protests, adding there had to be an “appropriate balance” between free speech and behaving in a tolerant way
The petition set up by a student at Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire, said the teacher had “pure intentions”, adding: “He is not racist and did not support the Islamiphobic [sic] cartoons in any manner.”
Liz Haste, whose daughter, 15, and son, 12, have been taught the religious studies course by the same teacher, told the Mirror: “It is a vigilante hunt on (him). He shouldn’t be sacked.
Protesters staged a protest for the second day in a row at the school gates
“At the end of the day, I don’t even feel like he should have been suspended.
“He’s always been a popular teacher for both of my children.
“My daughter said he is a thought-provoking teacher, he wants you to engage.
“He’s one of the teachers that can get the most out of pupils.
“What has happened to him is atrocious. It’s affecting his family, it’s affecting his friends and it’s affecting the pupils as well.”
She added: “He’s a young teacher in the prime of giving our kids a damn good education, and we’re struggling for teachers of his pedigree at the moment.
“The school is in a catch 22 . They’re damned if they do and they’re damned if they don’t.
“How’s anyone supposed to tackle this? I don’t envy the head teacher at all because this must be a very difficult situation.”
It is said he warned the students before showing the image and told them it would be controversial and they would tell their parents.
A charity claimed the image was one published by a Danish newspaper about 16 years ago and later republished by Charlie Hebdo.
Twelve people were killed when Islamic terrorists attacked the French satirical magazine in 2015 after printing a cartoon of the Prophet.