The government has banned the salafi activist Abu Khadeejah (real name Waheed Alam) from managing independent schools and being a governor at a local authority-maintained school because of his views on women and homosexuality.
The decision by the Secretary of State for Education this week found that Alam had engaged in conduct that is:
- Aimed at undermining the fundamental British value of individual liberty; and
- So inappropriate that it makes Mr Alam unsuitable to take part in the management of an independent school.
The government said Abu Khadeeja produced a number of online sermons and articles between 2015 and 2019 which “fail to show tolerance of, and respect for, the rights of others, and/or undermining fundamental British values…
“The material expresses views that can be seen to be aimed at undermining the individual liberty of women by seeking to restrict the activities of women, or certain activities that involve women.
“In addition Abu Khadeejah has published sermons and articles on homosexuality using emotive language to denigrate and demonise gay men in particular. It is the Secretary of State’s view that your expression of these views is aimed at spreading prejudice and intolerance towards gay people.”
Alam is the former Chair of Directors of Redstone Educational Services Ltd, proprietor body of Redstone Educational Academy, an independent school where he was also formerly the governing body Chair.
Ofsted conducted a pre-registration inspection of Redstone Academy for Girls in Birmingham in June 2019. The report concluded that the school was unlikely to meet all Independent School Standards upon its opening, in large part due to the published “discriminatory views of Abu Khadeejah which would be accessible to pupils.”
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“These views were offensive, inappropriate, and contrary to the Equality Act 2010, the Independent Schools Standards and DfE statutory guidance,” the government said.
“It is therefore, the view of the Secretary of State that Mr Alam would be unable to comply with his safeguarding responsibilities, and relevant legislation and guidance if he were to hold a school leadership role.”
Abu Khadeejah has a right to appeal within three months.
You can read his views on his website which he describes as “an opportunity for me, in my limited capacity, to disseminate benefits connected to the Salafi belief, methodology and rulings that have been narrated to us by our noble Scholars, past and present in their books and classes.”
