Now protesters picket Muslim council chief who said she would ‘welcome’ the Yorkshire teacher at the centre of the Prophet Mohammed cartoon controversy
- Protesters demand resignation of Sabia Akram, deputy leader of Slough Council
- She said she would be happy to welcome the Yorkshire teacher who is in hiding
- The original row erupted after Batley Grammar School teacher showed images of Prophet from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo
Protesters are demanding the resignation of Sabia Akram (pictured), deputy leader of Slough Borough Council, after she said she would be happy to welcome the Yorkshire teacher – now in hiding with his family – to the Berkshire town
A Muslim council chief is being targeted by pickets for backing the teacher at the centre of the Prophet Mohammed cartoon controversy.
Protesters are demanding the resignation of Sabia Akram, deputy leader of Slough Borough Council, after she said she would be happy to welcome the Yorkshire teacher – now in hiding with his family – to the Berkshire town. Ms Akram has reportedly also received death threats.
The original row erupted after the Batley Grammar School teacher – described as a rugby-loving ‘burly Yorkshire lad’ – showed images of the Prophet from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to teenage pupils during a religious education class about blasphemy.
Ms Akram, a Labour councillor, posted a message on Facebook in the wake of the furore last month to say she was ‘shocked and saddened’ that the teacher was forced to go into hiding.
She added: ‘To the teacher, if you need to leave Batley which I wouldn’t blame you! Come to Slough. We’ll welcome you and your family.’
The post triggered a wave of anger, with some in the local Muslim community claiming Ms Akram was disrespecting the Prophet.
The original row erupted after the Batley Grammar School teacher – described as a rugby-loving ‘burly Yorkshire lad’ – showed images of the Prophet from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to teenage pupils during a religious education class about blasphemy
A petition with more than 1,300 signatures described the councillor as ‘evil’ and demanded her resignation. It added: ‘Anyone who disrespects our Prophet has no position in our lives.’
On Friday, protesters picketed the offices of Slough Borough Council for a third week. About 50 demonstrators brandished placards declaring ‘Sabia Akram Out’, ‘Sabia Akram: Shame On You’ and ‘Stop Islamophobia.’
Sam Armstrong, communications director at the Henry Jackson Society think-tank, said: ‘The good people of Slough should have no truck with this hate-driven campaign and will no doubt show their support for their deputy council leader in the face of this clear intimidation.
‘This row is, in fact, about whether fanatics should be deciding what our children are taught in their schools.’
Slough Borough Council declined to comment on the protests against Ms Akram.