The teacher from Batley is still in hiding

[Nicetrynigel]

Teacher Batley
His life ruined because a bunch of thugs decided they didn't like what he was teaching in his RE lesson.
This and the Labour MP's request for bhalsphey laws against those of the Abrahamic faith have made me concerned.

People should be free to offer an view against another's religion. It's scary that we are being a country where people thing being offended gives them a right to made death threats.

This. For such a small percentage of the population they cause so many problems. Crack down on their demands

"I mean, I don't know what the Qur'an precisely says but it is a rudimentary fact that you DON'T picture Muhammad.

But it shouldn’t matter in a Western, non Islamic country what the Quran says when it comes to deciding what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour whin this society."

Why the heck do some religious people think they get to dictate to others who don't believe in their God what is ok. Stop pandering to this nonsense. Stop rolling over and submitting. Its a bloody picture, no one should be threatened over a picture. So bloody sensitive and demanding. Enough is enough.

As an aside
Irish Catholic family here
My cousins ( and most current friends ) were in England in the 70s and didn’t experience any assumptions from others that they were supporters of the IRA…it wasn’t spoken of
We were in NI at the time and of course there always was an assumption even if it was well known you didn’t support the methods.

I assume you were in NI or possibly Glasgow or similar or you had family near a Barracks with lots of forces children maybe

I agree it’s wrong to treat all people the same just because of their creed, colour or nationality.

The other thing is that the reaction around the world to these pictures brought them much more publicity and distribution. If it wasn't for the violence, nobody would be aware of them or have seen them. Now everyone has. The pictures did nothing to damage the image of islam, the violent reaction to them however, did terrible damage.

I mean, I don't know what the Qur'an precisely says but it is a rudimentary fact that you DON'T picture Muhammad

Or what will happen? That's the language of bullies.

"I mean, I don't know what the Qur'an precisely says but it is a rudimentary fact that you DON'T picture Muhammad"

It is a belief, held by a group of people who practice a particular religion. It should have no bearing on how other people in the UK conduct their lives or educate their children. Citizens in the UK who don't go along with this belief should not be threatened, bullied or terrorised.

I think I might have expressed that badly.
I don’t mean people regularly made an open assumption about Irish people… it was more a mood of tension and suspicion and a frostiness during certain periods. ( eg Birmingham pub bombings etc)
The very fact that they picked up the wrong people for both the Guildford and Birmingham bombings kind of reflects some of the lazy stereotyping that went on.

Remember the Scotsman who was mistaken for an Irishman with a weapon?

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2058109.stm

Agree with the Lazy stereotyping. Thatchers imprisonment without trial made all that seem like it was OK

I suppose my point is that it would be similarly wrong to say “all Muslims …” etc

It's a shame you can't picture god/saints in Islam. I watched Mary on Netflix last night, it was good. Beautiful cinematography. Shame I can't watch films about the birth of Islam and key figures. I would actually like to know more and let's face it, I'm never going to bother reading the book or doing serious academic style research.

It's true though. The reason that Muhammad is the most popular boy's name in Britain is not, as islamophobes are claiming, because Muslims are "out-breeding" non-Muslims, but simply because Muhammad is used as a first name for a very large proportion of baby boys in Pakistani-origin families. There is a much more varied pool of names for girls, which is why you don't see any Ayeshas or Aminas in the list.

Many Muslims believe that calling a son Mohammed will ensure their place in paradise. It's really that simple.

The Qur'an has nothing to say on the matter. And this is by no means a belief that is held by all muslims - iconography of Mohammed is forbidden in Sunni, but acceptable in Shia Islam and there are many examples of Persian/Iranian art depicting him, and even modern-day graphic art and postcards.

I don't think ordinary Muslims need to protest on the streets and I don't think most Muslims believe in death threats.

All I am saying is that schools and universities should be places of enquiry, and all religions should be equally dissected and explored without fear.

I can tell you that the anthropological reasons for Hindu cow worship are quite fascinating. As indeed are many Hindu epics.

Of course you can: Messenger of God, The Last Prophet, Lady of Heaven...

NewGreenDuck · Today 09:38

"Many Muslims believe that calling a son Mohammed will ensure their place in paradise. It's really that simple."

Rubbish

Thank you - that’s helpful

I suggest you actually speak to people who think that. It's actually an inaccurate hadith but many people believe it, just like Christians think many things that are superstitious.

At one time half the girls in Ireland were called Mary . It’s probably a similar mixture of act of devotion/ piety/ family tradition

And some of the boys, as an honorific to the BVM. Remember the tale Gay Byrne used to tell about possible US jobs. The Americans said he can’t use Gay, so could he use Gabriel. Gay Byrne said there was a well known Irish actor called Gabriel Byrne. So they asked him his second name. He told them it was Mary…

😂

You're absolutely correct - the kuran says nothing about it, some hadith advise against the depiction of any human being, regardless of prophethood, period. The theory that Muhammad and those close to him shouldn't be depicted seems to be an innovation.

But even if you are a sunni muslim, why should you be forbidden, punished, threatened or ostracised if you choose to keep or show the depiction of a possibly ahistorical figure?

Where is the teacher now? Are the authorities protecting him in any way? Has he been able to get a new job? Has he been compensated for the expense and pain of having to abandon everything and get a new home / life?

I'm shocked by those who still want to blame him or the school. I'd think a living, breathing human being deserves more empathy than a cartoon.

The most recent report that I could find said that he'd requested a change of identity.

Just because someone is offended it doesn't mean everyone has to bow down to them. I don't demand their life when a Muslim says for God sake or Christ sake. Tolerance works in both directions.