A teacher has been suspended after using an image of Osama bin Laden to portray the Prophet Muhammad during a religious studies lesson.

Year 10 students were shown an image of the 9/11 terrorist in a class at All Saints Academy, in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, last Friday.

Most Muslims consider depictions of Muhammad, or any of the other prophets of Islam, to be deeply offensive.

The school said it became aware of the incident after a “concerned student” raised the alarm, with the member of staff being “suspended immediately”.

All Saints Academy Dunstable later issued a statement apologising “unreservedly and sincerely” for the distress the incident caused.

The statement added: “All Saints Academy recognises the deep hurt and distress that has been caused to the Muslim community, and many other people of faith, by the totally inappropriate images that were used as part of a recent RS lesson.

“Not only was it offensive to attempt to portray an image of the prophet Muhammad, but the image that was used was that of Osama bin Laden, a terrorist leader, which further added to the deep insult.

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“The academy reiterates its unreserved and sincere apology for the distress this episode has caused. In terms of actions taken, we are happy to share the following information.”

All Saints Academy is described on its website as a Church of England school.

Its website says: “Our faith is central to everything that we do.”

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