Birmingham LGBT row: Protesters to challenge school ban
Parents in Birmingham say they will challenge an injunction against protesting and claim they are being ignored.
Monday 3 June 2019 14:10, UK
Parents protesting against same-sex relationships classes at a school in Birmingham have said they are being treated worse than fascists.
Parent Rosina Afsar said an injunction brought against protests outside Anderton Park Primary School was "disproportionate and unjust".
It was a course of action the council "did not use against Britain First or any other number of fascists", she told reporters.
"Instead," she continued, "an injunction has been applied to peaceful protesters".
Ms Afsar claimed the school, "in its arrogance, has consistently ignored us", and said parents had been under a "huge amount of emotional stress".
She also accused the school of "high-handed behaviour" and said there had been a lack of consultation.
"Parents have been reduced to tears at the way they have been described and treated," she said.
They will challenge the injunction in court, and "also judicially review all of the unjust and irresponsible behaviour by the school and the council" Ms Afsar said.
She said the protests will continue and parents "will not be silenced".
Protesters are calling for three things:
:: For the current RSE programme and teaching around LGBTQ relationships at the school to be suspended
:: A proper consultation involving third parties where the parents, not the school, decide who represents the parents
:: For any future programmes to be both age-appropriate and religiously sensitive
Birmingham City Council was granted a temporary High Court injunction last week following several weeks of protests outside Anderton Park.
Shakeel Afsar, who has been prominent in the demonstrations, said in a video posted on Twitter over the weekend that there was "no basis" for the injunction.
"We have remained peaceful throughout," he said.
He accused Birmingham City Council of becoming "intolerant towards us", and of being "clearly Islamophobic towards us".
Councillor John Cotton responded, saying protesters had the right to express their views, but did not have the right to "impede access to a school".
The council had "no choice" but to seek the injunction, he said.
He also called for a "proper dialogue" and urged "all parents to play their part in that".
:: The parents who say their children are being 'indoctrinated' by UK schools
Sky News reported last week that mediation between parents and staff had stalled.
Nazir Afzal, who is in charge of steering talks between the council, parents and teachers, said six weeks of discussions had been unsuccessful.
He claimed staff at Anderton Park are at risk and frequently break down in tears because of hostility at the school gates.
Mr Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for North West England, said: "I can't think of any other way to get people round a table again than to speak to you and Sky.
"I've looked at the curriculum: there is nothing in the curriculum that is LGBT specific. There is nothing about gay sex."