Muslim parents have told how their children were also victims of abuse and bullying from other students as they fasted during the daylight hours of Ramadan.
The families said yesterday some “Christian” children provoked Muslim students by thrusting food or drinks in their faces during observance of the sacred religious month.
They were responding to a couple’s claims that their son Antonios Grigorious, 11, was bullied by Muslim students because he ate a salami sandwich during Ramadan at Punchbowl Public School in Sydney’s southwest.
A Muslim mother-of-two, Lourenz Mahmoud, said yesterday she had complained to teachers at Punchbowl Public about the treatment of her nine-year-old son Youseff.
“They (students) said they hated Muslim people especially at Ramadan time,” Ms Mahmoud said. “What parents teach, their kids will follow ... non-Muslims should respect the fasting.”
Yesterday, non-Muslim parents associated with the public school said they were not prejudiced and only wanted “everyone to get on with each other”.
Following the revelations of bullying at Punchbowl Public, a Muslim boy has apologised for picking on Antonios and a friend.