Man held after documentary films assaults and abuse in Islamic lessons

Footage of children apparently being hit by their teachers during lessons in a British mosque which was aired on Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

Some of the footage, apparently shot at a mosque in Keighley has been posted on the internet and seen by detectives.

West Yorkshire police issued a statement which said: “One man has been arrested in connection with the incidents and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. West Yorkshire Police are receiving full co-operation from the Keighley Muslim Association who are working with us in support of the inquiry.”

Footage in the programme includes scenes of teenagers and a preacher hitting children.

Pupils as young as six or seven were caught on camera being hit and kicked by the people supposed to be looking after them.

The screening of the documentary follows an investigation into how young Muslims are being taught extremist views in British mosques.

A hidden camera installed by a reporter at a school in Birmingham recorded a preacher telling pupils “the disbelievers are the worst creatures, they are the worst creatures”.

The 11-year-olds are then told not to trust more liberal Muslims.

Their teacher said: “The person who’s got less than a fistful of beard, then you should stay away from him the same way you should stay away from a serpent or a snake.”

Another group of pupils are told in an assembly at the school: “The disbelievers, they are the worst of all people.”

He tells the children that Hindus drink urine and have no intellect.

The school is inspected by government-approved teams and is required to teach tolerance and respect for other religions.

Dr Taj Hargey, founder of the Muslim Educational Centre of Oxford, said: “This is totally against Islam.

“This is something that is deeply humiliating and shameful to Muslims to hear other Muslims describe people of other religions in such derogatory, disparaging terms.”