This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30699333
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Islamic education and tuition centre closes down | Islamic education and tuition centre closes down |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An Islamic education and tuition centre in east London has closed down. | An Islamic education and tuition centre in east London has closed down. |
| The Siddeeq Academy, in Whitechapel, provided support for parents who wished to educate their children at home. | The Siddeeq Academy, in Whitechapel, provided support for parents who wished to educate their children at home. |
| The college said its closure was not motivated by a lack of business or profit, but rather a "government witch-hunt targeting the Muslim community". | The college said its closure was not motivated by a lack of business or profit, but rather a "government witch-hunt targeting the Muslim community". |
| Its director was one of nine people arrested by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command during a series of raids in September. | Its director was one of nine people arrested by the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command during a series of raids in September. |
| Mizanur Rahman was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences and released on police bail until late January. | Mizanur Rahman was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences and released on police bail until late January. |
| Radical preacher and activist Anjem Choudary was one of the other men arrested. Both men deny any wrong-doing and have not been charged. | |
| 'Sad end' | |
| In a statement on its website, the tuition centre said it was with "great sadness" that the centre was closing with effect from 1 January 2015. | In a statement on its website, the tuition centre said it was with "great sadness" that the centre was closing with effect from 1 January 2015. |
| The decision to close was "not motivated by a lack of business or profit", it said. | The decision to close was "not motivated by a lack of business or profit", it said. |
| "This is a sad end to a very beneficial business, as a result of what can only be described as a government witch-hunt targeting the Muslim community, including completely legal Muslim businesses such as Siddeeq Academy. | "This is a sad end to a very beneficial business, as a result of what can only be described as a government witch-hunt targeting the Muslim community, including completely legal Muslim businesses such as Siddeeq Academy. |
| "We would like to highlight the fact that despite concerted efforts by authorities and the most rigorous and heavy-handed investigations, no legal action has been taken by the police or any other UK authority to force Siddeeq Academy to close. | "We would like to highlight the fact that despite concerted efforts by authorities and the most rigorous and heavy-handed investigations, no legal action has been taken by the police or any other UK authority to force Siddeeq Academy to close. |
| "No wrong-doing or illegal activity has been found on the part of Siddeeq Academy and there is no legal impediment to our continuing to operate as a tuition centre." | |
| However, the authorities had created "such a hostile environment that it would be near-impossible" to continue trading, the statement said. | |
| Tower Hamlets Council had raised concerns about the centre, but, as it was private, had no legal duty or responsibility for it. | Tower Hamlets Council had raised concerns about the centre, but, as it was private, had no legal duty or responsibility for it. |
| The council had reported its concerns to the Department for Education. | The council had reported its concerns to the Department for Education. |
Previous version
1
Next version