A Muslim father has removed his six-year-old daughter from school in protest at her teacher who confiscated her Islamic necklace.
Muhammed Tariq, 34, said his daughter Saniya was upset after a teacher took away her religious locket because she was swinging it around in class.
The Year 2 pupil was told to take off her taweez – a chain containing verses from the Koran – after she was caught playing with it at Nottingham Academy last Monday.
‘She said she had only been itching her neck and had got the taweez out to scratch her neck.
‘But the teacher thought she was playing with it and swinging it about.
‘The whole thing really upset her and I don’t think she is happy in the class any more.
‘I think it will be better if she moves to a different class so I have taken her out of school until we can get this issue resolved.
The academy has now agreed that Saniya can wear the item on religious grounds – except in PE and swimming.
Saniya, who lives with her parents in Bakersfield, Nottinghamshire, said: ‘I wear it every day.
‘My taweez means a lot to me and I think she should have asked my parents before making me take it off.’
Headteacher Steve Jones said: ‘After speaking to Mr Tariq about his daughter, we decided Saniya could keep her necklace on in school, under her polo shirt, apart from the PE and swimming lessons.
‘We would always consider exemptions on the basis of religious principles.
‘Indeed, in Saniya’s case, we were able to reach a compromise with Mr Tariq.’
Yesterday other parents gathered at the school gates gave mixed opinions on the incident.