Can a Christian instructor teach Muslim children?

LAHORE:

A Christian physical education teacher is under fire as a departmental inquiry has been initiated against her for allegedly proselytising.

The inquiry was initiated after the father of one of Mary Javaid’s students alleged that she had been preaching Christianity. The PE instructor, a grade-14 teacher at the Government Girls Elementary School in Chak-15, comes to school after traversing a distance of eight kilometres from her house in Pakpattan.



Chak-15 resident Muhammad Hussain had submitted an application, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, against Javaid before the DEO.

Hussain accused the instructor of proselytising her Muslim students in his application. He further went on to assert that Javaid used to torture those who refused to abide with Christian teachings. Labelling her “unholy,” Hussain said a Christian woman could not be allowed to teach Muslim girls.

Following the complaint, the Women DEO tasked the deputy education officer with probing the allegations. Advocate Javaid Sahotra, the instructor’s husband, told The Express Tribune his wife had been given the additional responsibility of teaching Urdu to class-6 students by the school administration due to paucity of instructors.



He said an overwhelming majority of Christians tended to remain on their guard lest they offend the religious feelings of others.

Sahotra said therefore, it was inconceivable that Javaid would have the temerity to proselytise in a community where not even a single Christian dwelled.

Saying that the allegations against his wife were baseless, Sahotra said the application had a communal colour to it. He said it had been moved with the sole intention of victimising a teacher on the basis of her religious confession.



Sahotra said the application was rooted in religious intolerance. Javaid’s husband said she was a committed professional who had come to fear for her life following the submission of the application.

He said Javaid had been going to work everyday despite the submission of the application, a move that had left her feeling insecure. Sahotra said she was hopeful that the probe would vindicate her.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2015.