Ricky Gervais has taken to Twitter to mock those protesting against a teacher using a cartoon drawing of the Prophet Mohammed during a class.
Protestors have been chanting outside Batley Grammar School in West Yorkshire after the teacher showed the cartoon to the children during lesson about religion.
The depiction of the Prophet Mohammed is deemed ‘deeply offensive’ to many muslims.
The teacher has been suspended following the incident with a petition being launched to save their job.
Taking to Twitter on Friday, Ricky, 59, hit out writing to his 14.5million followers: “Blasphemy? F***ing Blasphemy?
“It’s 2021 for f***’s sake. What next? People being punished for insulting unicorns?.”
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Ricky’s post divided his followers – with many taking offence.
One upset fan accused him of being deliberately offensive and added that the tweet was “an insult to the Islamic community worldwide”.
Replying to his post one fan hit out: “I think the teacher needs a proper look at a career change and perhaps write out “There’s a time and a place” a few hundred times. I don’t think it’s blasphemy, just bad judgement.”
(Image: PA)
Another added: “Of course there should be religious education in schools. It’s about teaching tolerance and to respect other people’s views and beliefs.
“You don’t have to agree with/believe them yourself but we should be a tolerant society.”
Wading into the row, Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, condemned the “censoring” of teaching.
The MP said: “This is a country based on free speech and teachers should be able to tackle difficult and controversial issues in the classroom – and issues should not be censored.”
The teacher in question is said to have gone into hiding amid growing backlash from religious groups.
Speaking about the situation, Mohammed Hussain of the Purpose of Life charity said he condemned violence in the name of Islam.
Hussain said on BBC Radio: “I was shocked and upset at the questions. I couldn’t understand why I was being asked about beheadings.
(Image: Getty Images)
“I was trying to say that I was against beheadings and that the Prophet said that if you were to kill one innocent person you were killing Mankind.
“I am against any type of violence in the name of Islam and do not support the beheadings that have taken place.”
It’s not yet known if the teacher will return to his role at a later date.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
