Mount Ridley College student upset after teacher shows ‘explicit and blasphemous‘ cartoon

A Mount Ridley College student has been left with “psychological and mental trauma” after a teacher played an “explicit and blasphemous” cartoon.

A muslim student has been left with “painful psychological and mental trauma” after an offensive cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad was shown in a year 11 media class. Picture: Mark Stewart

A muslim student has been left with “painful psychological and mental trauma” after an offensive cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad was shown in a year 11 media class.

A teacher at Mount Ridley College in Craigieburn, played an “explicit and blasphemous” cartoon to the class that depicted the prophet Muhammad, according to the female student’s father.

The Herald Sun believes the cartoon shown to the class was a Charlie Hebdo front page from 2015, which sparked a shooting massacre at the magazine that left 12 dead.

Sources said it was “highly offensive” and left the Islamic community in Melbourne “shocked” and “distraught”.

The Department of Education is also investigating.

The Herald Sun has been told the cartoon, which was shown in a year 11 media lesson on Friday, October 14, was part of a lesson on “hybridised media” and its effects on social media and the audience.

It is believed the cartoon was not on the formal Victorian curriculum and a warning was issued to the students about the content beforehand.

A teacher at Mount Ridley College in Craigieburn, played an “explicit and blasphemous” cartoon to a class. Picture: Mark Stewart

But the distraught father wrote on social media: “She was forced to watch an explicit and blasphemous cartoon material developed somewhere in Europe against our Holy Prophet Muhammad.”

The father said his daughter also tried to show her discomfort at the video.

“Unfortunately the teacher didn’t care and continued to play the video, forcing my child to view that content,” he said.

“This has aggravated my child and my family’s sentiments in a painful manner and has put us in a painful psychological and mental trauma.”

The father said his family demanded the teacher be suspended from the school and an “inquiry” be conducted.

“We want a formal apology and we demand an explanation as to why this kind of event even happened. We also want confirmation that such kind of events should not take place in any institutions which hurts our sentiments.”

An Education Department spokesman said: “Once the review is completed and the Department has consulted community groups, a decision will be made as to whether any extra advice should be provided to schools in relation to similar sensitive issues.”

The school has contacted the concerned family and is offering support to the student.

In a statement by the Islamic Council of Victoria, it said: “The ICV understands that many in the community are extremely upset about what they have heard and want to voice their anger and disapproval.”

“The ICV is working closely with the family in question and with others connected and asks that the community give the ICV and the others working to address this matter the time to complete the investigations, and to take the appropriate action,” the statement read.