Two Islamic school teachers who beat a 10-year-old pupil so badly he started losing his hair with worry have each been jailed for 12 months.
The Birmingham Mail reported that the youngster was slapped and hit with a stick by two teachers if he made mistakes while reading the Quran.
Mohammed Siddique, 60, and his son Mohammed Waqar, 24, had both previously admitted a charge of child cruelty.
Judge Mark Wall QC said: “The use of a weapon to hit a 10-year-old child, as you both well know, is wholly unacceptable in this day and age. There must be no mistake about the message that should be taken from this case. Acts of brutality of this sort, that you each indulged in with a stick, will not be tolerated.”
Sam Forsyth, prosecuting, at Birmingham Crown Court said their victim had been beaten with a plastic stick and given back-of-the-hand slaps by each of his tutors for “talking in the classroom” at a the Islamic Centre, attached to the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook.
The boy was hit during four separate incidents, with photographs of his injuries showing “extensive” bruising to the back of the boy’s legs.
Miss Forsythe said both teachers had a close association with the centre in Sparkbrook.
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She said one of the boys was a 10-year-old who was taught by both defendants: “Matters came to light when he told a learning mentor at his school in January last year. That lead to him being examined by a doctor.
“Photos show bruising to both legs. Doctors were particularly concerned about the bruising to the back of the legs because it was clearly non-accidental. The bruising was quite extensive.”
She added: “He also commented that Waqar would call him names like ‘paedo’.”
The punishments were given by both teachers for perceived shortcomings in the boy’s efforts during religious lessons, including learning the Quran.
Reading a victim impact statement, Miss Forsyth said: “He describes how this has had a great effect on him, causing him to lose hair as he was getting very stressed.
“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. He would get very upset about small things.”
Charanjit Jutla, defending, said: “Both men have positive previous good character. It has been a difficult ordeal for both men. The most significant punishment is the public humiliation that has had a significant impact on both of them.”
Referring to Waqar he said: “It was frustration and tension that lead him to act in the manner that he did.”
He added that both of them would now have to find alternative employment.
Siddique, who has been teaching for 30 years, is also an imam. Worshippers from his local mosque said he was “a polite gentleman”.
Nowroz Uddin, who has known him 25 years and was in court to hear the case, said: “We’re all in shock. I pray behind him at mosque. I have never heard a bad word said about Mr Siddique, he’s always been a polite gentleman.”
