Four Muslim men who assaulted religious education teacher Gary Smith because they disapproved of him teaching Muslim girls have been jailed. The attack occurred last July as Smith walked to Central Foundation Girls' School in Bow, east London.
The gang left Smith unconscious after attacking him with a metal rod and a brick, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Smith suffered multiple injuries, including a permanent 12cm scar across his left cheek and a broken facial skull.
The defendants pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent. Azad Hussain, 26, and Akmol Hussein, 26, received indeterminate sentences with a minimum of five years. Simon Alam, 19, was sentenced to 10 years, and Sheikh Rashid, 27, to eight years. A fifth defendant, Badruzzuha Uddin, 24, was jailed for two years for assisting an offender.
Judge John Hand QC said the men remained a danger to the public due to their extreme religious beliefs, stating they acted with no mercy, believing they were carrying out a duty to God. The court heard the men were caught after Hussein's car was bugged on an unrelated matter, revealing his comments that Smith was 'mocking us' and that he did not care about prison as he acted for Allah.
Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse described Smith as an 'able, enthusiastic and popular teacher' who cannot remember the attack and now suffers from memory problems, depression, and anxiety, affecting his ability to teach.
