'Trojan horse' teacher allowed to return to classroom

A teacher who told pupils that "Islam is the true religion" will be allowed to return to the classroom.

A teacher who told pupils that "Islam is the true religion" will be allowed to return to the classroom.

A professional panel heard that Wakass Haruf, who taught maths at Golden Hillock Academy, Birmingham, had told pupils that "we have the true religion, not like those ignorant Christians and ignorant Jews".

The panel found that these comments, made during a prayer meeting at the school in July 2013, were proven. Mr Haruf was found guilty of professional misconduct, but the panel ruled that he should not be banned from teaching.

Christian Concern's Chief Executive Andrea Williams has contrasted this ruling with the case of Christian Legal Centre client Felix Ngole, a student who was removed from his university course over comments he made about marriage on Facebook.

Guilty of misconduct, but not banned

Wakass Haruf is one of 13 teachers who are being investigated after the discovery of a 'Trojan horse' plot, to infiltrate five Birmingham schools with hard-line Islamist teaching.

The five schools were then placed into special measures by Ofsted.

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) panel also heard that Mr Haruf discussed the promotion of Islam within the school with other teachers, over messaging service Whatsapp.

He was cleared of other allegations, such as promoting 'extremism', stopping pupils playing football to force them to pray and broadcasting calls to prayer on a tannoy.

His comments about Islam being the "true religion", the panel found, had brought his profession into "disrepute", but this could have been an "unintended consequence arising from his choice of language".

It was ruled that Mr Haruf should therefore not be banned from the classroom.

'Misapplication of justice'

Andrea Williams commented that this ruling stands in stark contrast with Christian student Felix Ngole's case.

Felix, who was in his second year studying for a Masters in Social Work at Sheffield University, was removed from his course because of comments he had made on his personal Facebook page.

The comments in question were related to a post he had shared last September in support of Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples.

Felix expressed support for Kim Davis's freedom and, in the course of the discussion, explained biblical teaching on sexual ethics.

Two months later he was told his comments were being investigated and he was summoned to a meeting to discuss them.

Following a ‘Fitness to Practice Committee’ hearing, he was told he has been "excluded from further study on a programme leading to a professional qualification".

By posting his comments on Facebook, the Committee believed that Mr Ngole "may have caused offence to some individuals" and had "transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the Social Work profession."

His action would have an effect on his "ability to carry out a role as a Social Worker," the Committee said.

Mr Ngole is appealing the decision, supported by the Christian Legal Centre.

Andrea Williams said:

"Felix Ngole was removed from his university course because of an assumption that comments he made, on his personal Facebook page, would make him unfit to work in a professional environment.

"Yet here we have a teacher, who directly promoted hard-line Islamist teaching to vulnerable pupils, who has not faced sanctions for his behaviour.

"Mr Haruf's conduct put young people at risk, whereas Felix was removed simply over fears that his personal views, which had never previously influenced his conduct in the workplace, may 'cause offence'.

"Yet whilst Mr Haruf is allowed to continue teaching, Felix Ngole has been removed from his course before ever having been tried in his vocation.

"This is a huge misapplication of justice and it demonstrates inconsistency in the way such cases are handled."