Saudi Shia students boycott classes over teacher’s insult to religious beliefs

Hundreds of Saudi Shia students have refused to attend classes to protest against a teacher’s insult to their religious beliefs.

According to Qatif news agency, 600 female students refused to attend their classes at Halilah school in the eastern city of al-Ahsa after the school’s principal ignored their complaint against a teacher, who had insulted their religious beliefs.

The teacher has reportedly claimed that there is a special version of the holy Qur’an for Shias.

The dispute ended after the head of local education department intervened and ordered an investigation into the matter.

Meanwhile, the former head of the city council in Halilah region, Mohammed Taher al-Othman, said that the teacher has insulted people’s religious beliefs on several occasions, but despite repeated complaints by locals against her, the school principal has so far refused to take proper measures.