September 2015

Mosque teachers jailed for Koran boy beating

Two Islamic school teachers who beat a 10-year-old boy with a stick for reciting the Koran incorrectly have been jailed for a year.

Mohammed Siddique, 60, and his son Mohammed Waqar, 24, admitted wilful cruelty to a child under 16.

The four attacks took place at the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, between May and June 2014, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

The pair, from the Tyseley area of the city, also face a teaching ban.

Sam Forsyth, prosecuting, said the victim was beaten with a plastic stick and given back-of-the-hand slaps by each of his tutors for “talking in the classroom” at a Birmingham Islamic centre.

The boy was hit during four separate incidents, with photographs of his injuries showing “extensive” bruising to the back of his legs.

The attacks happened at the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook, Birmingham

Miss Forsyth said the boy had been left distressed by the experience.

He told police “Waqar would call him names like ‘paedo’,” in the classroom, Miss Forsyth added.

“He describes how this has had a great effect on him, causing him to lose hair as he was getting very stressed,” she said.

“When he was bruised he would try and hide them with clothing even in very hot weather and make excuses not to go to the centre, such as having tummy ache.”

Charanjit Jutla, defending, said both defendants were men of previous good character and deeply regretted their conduct.

Judge Mark Wall QC told them: “These were not assaults committed in ignorance of how inappropriate it was to use corporal punishment such as this.”

He added: “Acts of brutality of this sort which you each indulged in, with a stick, will not be tolerated.”

August 2015

Teachers admit slapping and hitting 10-year-old boy with stick during religious teaching at mosque

Two teachers have admitted slapping a 10-year-old boy and hitting him with a stick at a Birmingham mosque during religious lessons.

The men are believed to have administered the punishment because the victim had made mistakes, including failing to read the Koran properly.

Mohammed Siddique, 60, and his son, Mohammed Waqar, 23, both of Olton Boulevrd West, Tyseley, had been due to face trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

However they both pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty to a child under the age of 16 between May 1 and June 13 last year.

Judge Mark Wall QC adjourned sentence until September 7 for reports to be prepared, saying he needed to know more about their background.

He said: “The fact I am granting you bail and the fact I am asking for reports should not be taken by you as an indication of what the likely sentence will be.

“The conduct of each of you was serious and the judge who passes sentence will have all options open to him or her.”

Matthew Brook, prosecuting, said the pleas had been accepted on the basis each of the defendants had used a stick to hit the boy, now 11, on the leg and had slapped him.

He said Siddique and Waqar had taught the boy at a mosque in Sparkbrook in separate lessons.

Mr Brook said the Crown did not wish to litigate the basis of plea because of the age of the complainant.

“Obviously the Crown, if at all possible, try not to call such a young witness in any case.”

He said the prosecution’s main concern was that the defendants would not teach in the future and “for it to be known in the wider community that such behaviour is unacceptable and criminal”.

Both defendants were allowed bail on conditions of not contacting the victim, entering the mosque or teaching.