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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Two bearded pupils in Accrington sent home from school | Two bearded pupils in Accrington sent home from school |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two teenage boys have been sent home from school after refusing to shave off their beards. | Two teenage boys have been sent home from school after refusing to shave off their beards. |
| The 14-year-old Muslims are pupils at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington. | The 14-year-old Muslims are pupils at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School in Accrington. |
| Lancashire County Council said the boys had been sent home but could return to school once they had shaved their beards off. | Lancashire County Council said the boys had been sent home but could return to school once they had shaved their beards off. |
| The boys have refused to shave, saying they believed it was part of their faith to keep the growth. | The boys have refused to shave, saying they believed it was part of their faith to keep the growth. |
| According to Muslim tradition, Prophets including Muhammad, Jesus and Moses were all bearded. | |
| Some Muslims feel it is a blessing to adopt those facial characteristics. | |
| Last week they were placed in "isolation" because they had failed to comply with rules about appearance. | Last week they were placed in "isolation" because they had failed to comply with rules about appearance. |
| The school said the boys must be clean shaven and that pupils and parents were made aware of this before they started the school. | The school said the boys must be clean shaven and that pupils and parents were made aware of this before they started the school. |
| The father of one of the boys, who did not want to be named, told BBC Asian Network that he had received a call from the headmaster on Tuesday telling him his son had been sent home. | The father of one of the boys, who did not want to be named, told BBC Asian Network that he had received a call from the headmaster on Tuesday telling him his son had been sent home. |
| 'Change the rules' | 'Change the rules' |
| The two pupils were part of a group of students who were told in June that they must remove their facial hair before they returned for the new term. | The two pupils were part of a group of students who were told in June that they must remove their facial hair before they returned for the new term. |
| A third Muslim student who was also barred from the classroom said: "I didn't have a beard, so I was shocked when I was taken out of my class. | A third Muslim student who was also barred from the classroom said: "I didn't have a beard, so I was shocked when I was taken out of my class. |
| "I've had a moustache since I was 10. I did not have any sideburns but the teacher said I had a beard, so I had to shave it off or go to another school." | "I've had a moustache since I was 10. I did not have any sideburns but the teacher said I had a beard, so I had to shave it off or go to another school." |
| The boy complied with the request, but his father said the school should "change the rules". | The boy complied with the request, but his father said the school should "change the rules". |
| "There are a lot of Muslims who live near the school as well as Christians," he said. | |
| "A lot of parents are worried about this." | |
| About a third of the 750 pupils at the school are Muslim. | About a third of the 750 pupils at the school are Muslim. |
| The school's head teacher Xavier Bowers said he would later be meeting members of the Muslim community and Imams at a community centre. | |
| In a statement issued by the school, Mr Bowers said: "We believe that it's important to be clear about what we expect from students in all aspects of school life, including appearance and uniform. | In a statement issued by the school, Mr Bowers said: "We believe that it's important to be clear about what we expect from students in all aspects of school life, including appearance and uniform. |
| "When disputes arise, we do our best to deal with them in a reasonable and understanding manner, and to resolve them to everyone's satisfaction if at all possible." | "When disputes arise, we do our best to deal with them in a reasonable and understanding manner, and to resolve them to everyone's satisfaction if at all possible." |
| He added pupils and parents were frequently reminded of the rules on appearance. | He added pupils and parents were frequently reminded of the rules on appearance. |