School tells Muslim girls it’s ‘not safe’ for them

Three young Muslim girls at the centre of a racial bullying row have been told by their north Belfast school it is “not safe” for them to return.

The children, aged under 16, have not been back to the Belfast Model School for Girls since an alleged assault there in November.

A statement from the board of governors of the school said "the safety and wellbeing of all our students remains our highest priority".

Complaints were made concerning the girls to police, who are now investigating the incident as a hate crime.

A friend of the girls’ parents said the situation had been “switched” to make them look like “bad people”.

Claims were made online that schoolchildren were being targeted by Muslim girls.

Some social media users claimed that Muslim girls at the school acted as a “gang” and that they had a “hit list” of “local” girls; that they had been attacking teachers; and that knives were brought to the school.

There were also calls in the comments for “ethnic cleansing” in the area.

In an attempt to reassure parents, school principal Paula Stuart confirmed at the time that “PSNI were onsite to view CCTV and that no knives were involved”.

She described online claims as “inaccurate” and appealed for “support in helping to stop the spread of misinformation”.

The friend, who was speaking anonymously due to concerns for their own safety, said prior to the incident at the school, the girls claimed to have experienced racial bullying.

“Hitting on the shoulder, calling names, calling them monkey, calling them black, saying they’re here for the money of this country – benefits – and asking them to go back to their country,” they said.

“Pulling their hijabs, calling their hijabs ugly, and calling them ugly. They felt very, very isolated. Fearful.”

The friend said one of the girls had been defending herself when another child was hurt in the alleged assault, which happened on 12 November.

Police Supt Allister Hagan confirmed enquiries were continuing.

“Officers continue to liaise with key stakeholders in relation to this matter,” he said.

“No arrests have been made in relation to the incident, which is being treated as a hate crime.”