How can we avoid another Batley Grammar blasphemy row?

Dame Sara Khan, the government’s adviser on social cohesion, has produced a powerful and brave report with some stark findings which should make for seriously uncomfortable reading among political and public sector leaders. The report describes how politicians, academics, artists and journalists are self-censoring because of severe levels of harassment and abuse, which Khan calls ‘freedom restricting harassment’, a finding mirroring the survey Policy Exchange commissioned from teachers last year in the report Blasphemy in Schools.

The case studies are harrowing, in particular the plight of the Batley Grammar School teacher whose life was threatened – and who remains in hiding three years on – following a lesson in which he used a picture of the Prophet Mohammed to illustrate issues around blasphemy. The report details the total failure of Kirklees Council, West Yorkshire Police and the Batley Multi Academy Trust in disturbing terms – even more so given that all three continue to deny they failed in their responsibilities in any way.