Birmingham protester facing jail for refusing to send son to school over LGBTQ-inclusive lessons
Jabar Hussain, 51, is being prosecuted after preventing his nine-year-old son from attending Parkfield Community School in Birmingham.
By Will Stroude
One of the parents at the centre of protests against LGBT-inclusive lessons at a Birmingham primary school is facing a fine and possible jail time for refusing to send his son to school.
Jabar Hussain, 51, is being prosecuted after preventing his nine-year-old son from attending Parkfield Community School in Birmingham while the row over the ‘No Outsiders’ diversity programme continues, Metro reports.
If convicted, Mr Hussain faces a maximum £2,500 fine potentially a three-month jail sentence.
Mr Hussain has reportedly told his lawyers to press for a judicial review over the issue if Birmingham City Council does not stop the prosecution, claiming ‘No Outsiders’, which teaches children about different families, in an age-appropriate manner, violates his religious freedom.
His lawyer, Paul Conrathe, said: “This prosecution criminalises him for not submitting to teaching in breach of his rights”.
Parkfield Community School has been thrust into the spotlght over the last 12 months over ongoing protests by parents and members of the local community against ‘No Outsiders’.
The teacher responsible for starting the programme, Andrew Moffat, was honoured with an Attitude Pride Award last summer for his work promoting diversity in the classroom.
It came as shocking footage emerged of protests taking place outside the school last summer, with crowds of parents chanting “shame” at the mention of Mr Moffat’s name.
“I think it all comes down to this this fundamental misconception that you choose to be gay,” Mr Moffat told Attitude last year of the ongoing protests.
“You don’t. Protestors have said that we’re confusing children by doing this, but that’s not my experience at all. And let’s not forget that some children in our schools have got two moms or two dads.
“It’s really important that they know their family is welcome and accepted.”