Mirfield Free Grammar School and Sixth Form, in West Yorkshire, has been accused of allegedly refusing to allow Muslim pupils to pray indoors, which has led the students to be forced to pray outside in the unbearably cold weather.
Images have been released which has shocked many. The images show students praying outside in the wet and freezing atmosphere.
It is said that this “degrading” issue has been ongoing since October 2014, when the school allegedly withdrew the use of the school hall for praying purposes. However, the school has denied that the hall was ever in use as a prayer room for students.
Akooji Badat, chair of the Masjid and Madressa Noor-Ul-Islam mosque, where many of the students worship stated, “For children to be made to go outside in horrible conditions is surely wrong in anybody's eyes. The school has acted disgracefully. I am hearing from parents that children have been soaked to the skin and cannot concentrate in lessons. This is the second winter in a row now. We have tried everything from handing over a petition signed by 70 pupils, hosting inter-faith meetings and talking to local politicians, but the school refuses to budge. It is not unreasonable to ask for the children to be able to pray indoors, like they used to.”
