Dunstable school sorry after using picture of Osama Bin Laden to depict Prophet Muhammed

March 2, 2022

Dunstable is a small town not so very far from Luton, which as we all know is such an Islamised town events there inspired a man and a movement. Dunstable was more English the last time I was there, but that was 10 years ago and the demographic can change very quickly.

A Bedfordshire school has come under fire after a picture of Osama Bin Laden was used to depict the Prophet Muhammed.

A picture of a PowerPoint presentation, which was used in a religious education lesson at All Saints Academy (a Church of England school) in Dunstable, was shared on social media.

It showed a picture of Osama Bin Laden with the words written next to it “Muhammed. Last Prophet in Islam.”

Not only was the picture completely incorrect, but drawings and pictures of the Prophet Muhammed are deeply offensive to Muslims. The incident has been met with outrage in the local Muslim community, who called on the school to properly investigate how the incident happened.

All Saints Academy has since released a lengthy statement acknowledging that the incident had been brought to the attention of teachers by a concerned pupil and that the school was sorry for any offence caused.

An external investigation is currently taking place and the teacher involved has been suspended. Grovel, grovel, grovel…

“….Upon learning about this incident from a concerned student, the member of staff was immediately suspended by the principal pending a detailed and swift investigation which will follow the academy’s disciplinary procedures. It would be against the terms of that procedure either to identify the individual concerned or to comment any further until the final outcome is determined.

….Finally, having now established very useful links with members of the Muslim community in Luton, we would hope to work together to gain a better understanding of religious and cultural matters that impact on all our lives and will help us to be better educators.”

5 Pillars scented blood and went in quick

After uncovering the photo on Friday, 5Pillars wrote to the school asking them to confirm/answer a series of questions. Here are their responses:

Was this presentation slide from All Saints Academy Dunstable?

Yes, the presentation slide was from the Academy

What is the name of the teacher who put this presentation together? We’d like to contact them for comment as well.

The teacher is suspended pending disciplinary procedures. It is not appropriate to name them since we are obliged to follow due process.

Alarm bells should be ringing VERY loudly! Even the readers of 5 Pillars think this was out of order.

What action have your board of governors and headteacher taken regarding this matter (if any)?

The Principal suspended the member of staff as soon as the issue came to light. The governing board issued an immediate apology on the Academy’s website and Twitter feed. Following positive discussions with representatives of the Luton Council of Mosques, a further statement has been issued to that Council and also placed on the Academy’s website. There will be on-going dialogue with the Council. The Academy will also commission an external review of the circumstances leading to the presentation being produced and used.

Does ASA believe this is remotely acceptable?

The Academy is appalled by the deep offence this action has caused to the Muslim community, and to other people of faith. It was totally inappropriate even to consider producing an image of the Prophet Mohammed, which is contrary to the teachings of the Koran, let alone using an image of a renowned terrorist, Osama Bin Laden.

Is the teacher in question competent enough to teach religious education?

In line with the response to Q3, it is not appropriate to comment on the individual teacher at this stage.

Why are the Teaching Unions so silent when teachers are suspended and their careers endangered like this (remember Batley? His union had funded the group who hounded him). They are so vocal in support of everything except their own members and responsibility.