A Muslim school in Leicester has come under fire for giving priority to Sunni pupils over Shia ones, it has emerged.

Madani High School says it is the first purpose-built Islamic faith secondary school in the country.

It describes itself as an establishment that “will endeavour to fulfil demands from the Muslim community as priority”.

But a probe by the schools adjudicator found its admission arrangements state that priority will be given to pupils who follow one of four schools of Islamic law – Hanafi, Shaf’i, Hanbali or Maliki. All these groups belong to the Sunni sect of Islam – the larger of the two main Muslim sects.

Schools adjudicator Dr Elizabeth Passmore found there were aspects of the school’s admission arrangements that were unlawful and did not comply with the School Admissions Code.

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The British Humanist Association described the existence of state schools that discriminate on religious grounds as “deeply wrong”.

Chief executive Andrew Copson said: “The schools adjudicator is right to insist that admissions to state schools should be as broad and inclusive as possible. That is in the best interests of parents, pupils and society now and in the future.”

Full article: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/national/muslim_school_s_admissions_policy_criticised_1_372149