THE UK government flagged up an Islamic boarding school in Yorkshire after finding a book in its library with “inappropriate content” that undermined “British values”.
Ofsted, an organ of the education department, said the book titled 'Islam on Homosexuality', which bore the official stamp of the school library, advocated “punishment” for homosexuality.
It contained a paragraph that called for putting “evil-doers to death”. According to Ofsted, the headteacher of the Dewsbury-based Institute of Islamic Education told its inspectors that the book should not have been in the library. But other leaders of the institution defended the book, saying it served the purpose of “research”.
In its report, Ofsted also referred to the wording in the text which said "participants of the homosexual act should be slained (sic), whether they are married or unmarried”, MailOnline reports.
“The book included inappropriate content which does not encourage respect for those who share one of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010”, Ofsted said referring to the anti-discrimination law of the UK.
The institution with 234 boys on its roll aged between 11 and 25 years, “does not meet the “national minimum standards for boarding schools”, the watchdog remarked in its report.
The school had made headlines in 2016 when an investigation discovered that the pupils were not allowed to watch TV or read the newspapers and were forbidden from listening to music, according to MailOnline.
Many eyebrows were raised earlier when Ofsted awarded a ‘good’ rating to the school although it did not allow its students to socialise with outsiders.
The school is yet to comment on the latest controversy.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)