DAR AL HARB - U.K.: MOSLEM TEACHER ASSAULTS 12 YR OLD STUDENT DURING RELGIOUS CLASS

Mosque teacher on assault charge
By Charlotte Bradshaw

A MOSQUE teacher has appeared in court after being accused of assaulting a 12-year-old pupil during a religious lesson.

Mohammed Jamil Ahmed, 49, of Grindleton Road, Blackburn, was teaching at the Medina Street Mosque in Oak Street when the alleged incident took place.

It is alleged that the 12-year-old boy was with approximately 20 other pupils when the attack took place, in an annex of the mosque.

Mosque leaders said the allegation, which Ahmed denies, had come as a "complete shock" to everyone who knew the long-serving teacher.

Police said Ahmed is alleged to have placed a cloth over the youngster's head, preventing him from being able to see, before repeatedly punching and kicking him to the face and body.

The boy suffered cuts to his face, bruising to his body and swelling to his hand, police said.

The youngster was taken to the police station with an adult to report the matter shortly after the alleged attack, on February 5 at 6.30pm.

Police said Ahmed was arrested on March 15, charged with common assault and bailed until his court appearance.

Mosque leaders confirmed that Ahmed has since been suspended pending the outcome of a trial.
Friends of Ahmed said he was "well respected" after teaching Islamic studies at Randal Street Mosque, of which Medina Street is a branch, for the past 15 years.

They said he taught evening classes at the mosques two hours every week night on a voluntary basis.

A police spokesman said: "We were alerted to the alleged incident after the boy was brought to the inquiry desk of the police station with an adult. He said a cloth had been put over his face and that he had been repeatedly kicked and punched to the face and body."

A spokesman for Medina Street mosque said: "He has been suspended from teaching while the court case is concluded. Obviously any incidents of this nature cannot and will not be tolerated in our mosques.

"If this has happened it is completely out of character for Mohammed.

"He is a well respected and highly regarded teacher, by the pupils and the parents, who offers his time to teach the youngsters on a voluntary basis.

"Everybody who teaches in the mosques has to be Criminal Records Bureau cleared by the police before they are allowed to teach."

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