A Labour council has issued guidance to teachers urging them to avoid giving after-school detentions to Muslim students during Ramadan.
The guidance, shared with schools at the start of the Islamic holy month, advises that pupils who have been punished should be allowed to go home in time to break their fast.
It was circulated by Lewisham Council to schools across south London, with the advice drafted by the Lewisham Islamic Centre.
The mosque previously faced criticism over its chief imam, Shakeel Begg, who was described as an “extremist Islamic speaker who espouses extremist Islamic positions” by a High Court judge.
The guidance, published on the council’s website, states: “With Ramadan now occurring during the winter months, after-school detention or activities for a pupil who is fasting will mean that the pupil is not able to reach home in time to break their fast.
“Whilst accepting full responsibility for breaching school rules, schools should be aware that pupils should be able to carry out their religious duty of breaking the fast on time.
“The need for pupils to be at home before sunset might also have implications for the school’s behaviour management practice, e.g. after-school detentions.
“Schools may wish to consider alternative sanctions during this period, including the use of lunchtime detentions.”
Teachers have been told to ‘consider alternative sanctions’ for students during the Islamic holy month
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The advice provided to south London schools was produced in cooperation with the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (Sacre).
Just days ago it emerged the body had also produced guidance, shared by a number of Labour-run councils in northern England, warning that children’s illustrations in art lessons could be considered “idolatrous” under Islamic law.
The guidance, titled “Sharing the Journey”, suggests some Muslim parents may be sensitive to certain aspects of teaching, including art, dance, drama, music, physical education and religious studies.
Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott has demanded Government action, writing to her Cabinet counterpart Bridget Phillipson.
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The guidance was circulated by Lewisham Council to schools across south London
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WIKICOMMONSThe Tory MP said the guidance was “not sensitivity”, but an “imposition of one religion’s doctrine onto every child’s education”.
The Ramadan guidance also encourages schools to “be more inclusive by teaching the pupils about Ramadan and inviting guest speakers from the Muslim community”.
The Lewisham Islamic Centre offered its services as a “liaison” to help organise events at schools.
The mosque-drafted guidance also said schools should provide gender-segregated prayer rooms “where possible”, along with facilities to perform wudu – the Islamic washing ritual carried out before daily prayers.
The Lewisham Islamic Centre previously faced criticism over its chief imam
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In 2016, the Islamic Centre came under intense scrutiny after Mr Begg attempted to sue the BBC for labelling him an “extremist”.
However, High Court judge Mr Justice Haddon-Cave ruled in favour of the public broadcaster, saying he had accepted the contents of a 2009 speech by the chief imam as sufficient evidence.
The judge noted that it was “all about encouraging the audience to engage in aggressive, physical jihad in Palestine on behalf of Islam”.
A spokesman for Lewisham Council said: “The Ramadan advice was developed by Lewisham’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (Sacre) – a multi-faith organisation that councils are required to establish to advise on the provision of religious education and collective worship – in partnership with Islamic community leaders.”