Have a question?
033 3772 0409

Legal News

Jail for Islamic teachers convicted of child cruelty (14 September 2015)

Date: 14/09/2015
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Jail for Islamic teachers convicted of child cruelty

A court has sentence two teachers at an Islamic school to 12 months in jail for inflicting corporal punishment and physical abuse on a pupil.

The teachers beat a student at the Jamia Mosque in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, as a punishment for reciting the Koran incorrectly.

Mohammed Siddique, 60, and Mohammed Waqar, 23 – both from Tyseley in Birmingham – were arrested by the police, after an allegation was made by a 10-year-old boy who said he had been repeatedly slapped, as well as being hit by various objects by teachers at the Islamic centre.

Birmingham Crown Court was told that, in a previous incident, the boy had told his mother that he had been hit by Siddique.

The boy’s mother approached Siddique, who admitted hitting her son – but he assured the mother that her child would be moved into another class.

However, a few months later, the boy returned home in a state of distress and his mother saw bruising on her son’s body – which he said had been caused by the defendants hitting him with sticks and brushes.

This incident resulted in the boy’s mother referring the matter to the police.

When arrested, both Siddique and Waqar denied the allegations.

However, on 10 August 2014, they both pleaded guilty to cruelty to a person under 16 years.

The prosecution told the court:

“Parents were sending their young children to this centre, as they had trust in the teachers not only to educate their children – but more importantly, to ensure that they were treated with respect and appropriately cared for.

“Mohammed Siddique and Mohammed Waqar breached this trust and subjected their students to fear and intimation.

“This culminated in a 10-year-old student being slapped and then having various sticks and brushes – which were kept as weapons for the sole purpose of inflicting pain on the students – used to beat him.

“We would like to take this opportunity of praising the young victim and his family who assisted the prosecution team in bringing these two offenders to justice.

“It takes courage to report matters like this, but it is important that victims understand that it is vital that they speak out and be ready to pursue the matter to trial if need be, in order for a stop to be put to these abuses.”

On Thursday, 10 September, 2015, Saddique and Waqar were both sentenced to 12 months in jail at Birmingham Crown Court.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge involving child abuse or child cruelty – and are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise on criminal charges.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and a criminal defence lawyer can usually reach a police station for interview under caution within an hour.

For expert legal advice on all criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
Duncan Lewis is the trading name of Duncan Lewis (Solicitors) Limited. Registered Office is Spencer House, 29 Grove Hill Road, Harrow, HA1 3BN. Company Reg. No. 3718422. VAT Reg. No. 718729013. A list of the company's Directors is displayed at the registered offices address. Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority . Offices all across London and in major cities in the UK. ©Duncan Lewis >>Legal Disclaimer, Copyright & Privacy Policy. Duncan Lewis do not accept service by email.