UK - Great news for equality as Muslim school threatened with closure if it didn't stop female discrimination

A Muslim school in Derby has said it will support female staff who do not want to wear head coverings after being investigated and threatened with closure for discrimination against women and girls.

It follows a letter warning the Al-Madinah School it faced closure unless the discrimination against female staff and pupils stops.

Education Minister Lord Nash laid out 17 issues for the school to consider, which included an end to "unacceptable" teaching standards.

The letter said if steps were not taken by Tuesday, funding would be pulled.

Parent-governor Abdullah Shahjan begrudgingly stated: "We are amending policies to make sure we support staff, who if for their cultural, ethical, or faith do not wish to cover their hair."

In a report, Lord Nash stated: "The trust has manifestly breached the conditions of its funding agreement by:

• Failing to ensure the safety of children at the school

• Delivering an unacceptably poor standard of education

• Discriminating in its policies and procedures towards female staff

• Failing to discharge its duties and responsibilities in respect of the governing body

"I will not tolerate breaches of the commitments you gave when entering into the funding agreement," he added.

He has urged the school's trust to take five "urgent steps" by 15 October, including providing written confirmation that "you have ceased any practices and procedures that have as their reason, cause or effect that women and girls are treated less favourably than men and boys".

The school has been given a deadline of 22 October to address nine further action points and must provide a plan setting out a clear management structure by the start of November.

Lord Nash has done equality and fairness a great deed by his actions. It is time every institution and every person in authority or anywhere to speak out against discrimination whether it be racial, sexual, religious and gender or any discrimination in society. 

For too long now, in the 21st century, something that should have been consigned to the dustbin of history with the new millennium has been allowed to manifest itself and grow and it's time it was stopped. 

In Muslim countries and even in Muslim communities in western countries, women and girls are treated second class and often brutalised simply because they're women and 'second class' in the eyes of many chauvinistic male bigots who sadly control those countries and communities.

We say it again - THIS MUST STOP!