Islamic college in row over 鈥榲irgins鈥
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An Islamic college in Australia is under investigation after claims its principal banned girls from taking part in running competitions because they might 鈥渓ose their virginity.鈥
Victoria state Education Minister James Merlino said yesterday that if true, the claims made by a former teacher at Melbourne鈥檚 Al-Taqwa College 鈥渨ould be very concerning.鈥
鈥淚 have asked the schools regulator to investigate,鈥 he said in a statement.
The ex-teacher wrote to government this week saying 鈥渢he principal (Omar Hallak) holds beliefs that if females run excessively, they might 鈥榣ose their virginity,鈥欌 The Age newspaper said.
鈥淭he principal believes that there is scientific evidence to indicate that if girls injure themselves, such as break their leg while playing soccer, it could render them infertile.鈥
Hallak issued a statement yesterday denying the allegations, saying girls are 鈥渆ncouraged to participate in all activities.鈥
鈥淲e do not believe that running excessively may cause female students to lose their virginity or that sporting injuries could render them infertile,鈥 the statement said.
It did not address claims that girls from the college鈥檚 primary school had been blocked from district events.
The Age published a letter that appeared to be written by the college鈥檚 cross-country team to Hallak challenging his decision to reportedly stop the primary school鈥檚 team from competing in events.
鈥淛ust because we are girls doesn鈥檛 mean we can鈥檛 participate in running events,鈥 the letter said.
鈥淚t also doesn鈥檛 say that girls can鈥檛 run in the hadith (sayings of the Prophet Mohammed),鈥 it said.
Al-Taqwa College is believed to be Victoria state鈥檚 largest Islamic school with about 1,700 pupils.
It is not the first time Hallak has made headlines.
Last month, he told The Age that he had instructed students not to join Islamic State as the jihadist group was a plot by Israel and the United States to gain control of Middle Eastern oil.
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