UK: New education chief previously encouraged students to recite the Qur’an and wear hijabs outside school

Image: Jihad Watch

A former headteacher who encouraged students to "recite the Koran" and "wear hijabs outside of school" has been appointed as the interim chairman of Ofsted.

Sir Hamid Patel will hold the role temporarily while a permanent replacement for Dame Christine Ryan is sought.

This is believed to be the first time a religious school leader has taken on the position.

Patel, who has been the CEO of Star Academies Trust since 2010, oversees around 40 primary and secondary schools, including Islamic, grammar, and one Christian school.

He has also served on the Ofsted board since 2019.

Previously, Patel was headteacher of Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School in Blackpool, where the school's guidance suggested students "recite the Koran at least once a week" and avoid bringing "stationery with un-Islamic images" to school.

Additionally, the school was among the first in the UK to advise students to wear a hijab outside of school.

The institution also faced criticism for hosting a visit from Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais, a Saudi Arabian cleric known for controversial remarks about Jewish people. Patel explained to The Sunday Times that the visit occurred because the students were eager to meet a figure with millions of followers on YouTube, and he stayed for only 20 minutes.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)