Schools have been advised that children’s drawings could be considered blasphemous under Islamic law.
Guidance issued to teachers by Labour councils in northern England warns that images made by pupils in art lessons may be seen as “idolatrous” under sharia.
The advice, designed to help teachers adapt to religious sensitivities, also warns that music and dance classes could be contrary to the teachings of Islam.
It adds that diversity in the classroom can be “a great source of strength”, but that schools “will want to be flexible in catering for religious difference”.
The guidance was issued by local authorities across the North of England, including Kirklees, the council area that covers Batley Grammar School.
The school became the scene of protests in 2021 after a teacher showed an image of the Prophet Mohammed in a class. The staff member remains in hiding.
The guidance document titled ‘Sharing the Journey’ says that “for some Muslim parents, sensitivities may exist in connection with the teaching of aspects of art, dance, drama, music, physical education, religious education and RSHE”.
The subject-by-subject guide to handling religious prohibitions while delivering the National Curriculum states that while Islamic culture has produced enduring abstract art, “three-dimensional figurative imagery of humans is considered idolatrous by some Muslims”.
Teachers have been advised: “It is very important that the school understands this and is also careful not to ask its students to reproduce images of Jesus, the Prophet Mohammed or other figures considered to be prophets in Islam. Some Muslim pupils may not wish to draw the human figure.”
The prohibition is based on several hadith – canonical stories about Mohammed that inform sharia – in which the Muslim prophet speaks out against images, particularly those imitating living beings....<<<Read More>>>....