I agree the hijab should be banned for very young girls in primary schools – it's not Islamophobic to say that

Neena Lall, the headteacher of a school in East London, has been overruled after attempting to ban the hijab for under-eights. It's not right; we have to be allowed to criticise and remain tolerant at the same time without being called 'racist'

Neena Lall announced a ban of the hijab for under-eights then was called ‘racist’ and sent a deluge of nasty letters (iStock)

Some years ago, in Leicester, I saw a Muslim woman wearing a hijab ahead of me, holding the hands of her two young children. Along came a group of young lads who circled them and shouted, “Take the tea-towel off your head!” They laughed, shoved past them and moved on to the philosophy lecture they were no doubt on their way to.

I ran to the lady. It was upsetting. She comforted me, told me not to worry as there were idiots everywhere but most people were tolerant and good. I thanked her for looking after me; she told me to “stay positive”. I told her children they had a very strong mummy, they looked awkward and we all went about our business.

I support anyone who wants to wear a hijab. I would march for their right to do so if I was free that Saturday and the sun was out. I don’t understand it, but who cares? Who said we have to understand everything that matters to other people? Who gives a damn how other people express their beliefs as long as it doesn’t impact negatively on others?

That said – and I’m choosing my words very carefully so as not to cause offence – making little girls wear a hijab at lower primary school age is bonkers.

Neena Lall, the headteacher of St Stephen’s School in East London, banned the wearing of the hijab for girls in her school under the age of eight.

In doing so, she was compared to Hitler by some members of the community in a spoof video. Hitler was responsible for the extermination of millions of people; Lall was responsible for sensibly pointing out that Islam does not require women to wear a hijab until puberty so how about we don’t create unnecessary divides in the classroom?

“But what about the Sikhs’ turbans?” I hear none of you cry. In case you did, there is a huge difference. I’m no religious scholar but I know that turbans used to be worn only by the upper classes. It was decided that all Sikhs wear it, regardless of their social status, as a symbol of equality. The added bonus being that it protects men’s luscious long locks.

The hijab is a different story. Its principal is female modesty and Islam does not require it from young children.

I have heard people say, “But she wants to wear it.” Anyone who has ever cared for a very young child knows they are faddy little things. One day they want to wear a hijab, the next they want to wear a Batman outfit. If they are wearing either of those things every single day from the age of four, we must consider that their families are putting pressure on them – which is wrong in either case.

Of course a child might want to wear a hijab to “be like Mummy”. But if we are to allow little girls to copy their mothers’ “look” in school, then I imagine lots will turn up wearing contouring make-up, in heels and, in my daughter’s case, with bed-head and red lippy. We don’t allow it, because it would put a barrier around our child and it’s divisive.

Lall faced a truck-load of abuse. The former mayor of Blackburn, Salim Mulla, called her a “vile racist” and her school was bombarded with up to 500 emails a day featuring similar insults. The outcry meant that just a week later, school governors overturned her “no hijab for under-eights” policy.

I was cheered to see that Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, has thrown her weight behind Lall. She said: “Schools must not, in their entirely correct goal of promoting tolerance, shy away from challenging fundamentalist practice where it appears in their schools.”

The avalanche of Islamophobia from certain sections of the media and supporters of the far right who don’t differentiate between terrorist fanatics and those who peacefully follow this Abrahamic religion means that those of us who are not utter b*****ds feel protective of the Muslims.

A little boy at my son’s school made a large model of a mosque for his school project and all of us liberal parents made a great fuss of it. Too much fuss, really, as the boy’s parents had clearly made it and given the detail, scale and inclusion of a wheelchair ramp. One of them was an architect and the other one worked for the council.

But being tolerant and protective doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pipe up and object with confidence when certain things don’t sit right with us. If we stay silent for fear of being called “racist”, we leave a vacuum for the hate-peddlers to sweep in.

There are Muslims who campaign against the wearing of the hijab – this is not Islamophobia. Let little girls have the freedom to feel the wind in their hair as they tear around the playground with their friends.