Controversy still surrounds the creation of a Muslim free school that is due to open in Derby in September.
Opponents of the Al Madinah School claim that anyone objecting to the school and raising questions is subjected to intimidation and harassment.
They also say most of the city’s mosques have distanced themselves from the project, following concerns about the structure and direction of the school.
Opposition spokesman Kamran Raja said: “This is a way of bringing independent Islamic education of children in Muslim communities under state control.
“It will teach a secularised form of Islam, stripped of all rules and values, and reduced to a crude universal ethos and a few meaningless rituals.
“The result will produce another lost generation who have little idea of their identity, lack basic values of halal or haram, discipline, respect or purpose, akin to the secular youths who participated in last summer’s riots and fill single parents’ estates across the country.”
Opposition parents are unhappy that the detailed proposals include celebrating Christian holidays, adopting a secular ethos, gender mixing, shirt and trouser uniforms and having a non-Muslim head and staff.
The school, which is to be based in the former St Andrew’s House office block on London Road, will be financed by the Department for Education and its head will be Andrew Cutts-McKay.
Shazia Parveen, one of three trust board members behind the project, said she was aware some members of the Muslim community were against the school.
She said: “We know some people are speaking out but we also know that many parents are supporting the creation of the school.”
Ms Parveen defended the appointment of Mr Cutts-McKay, saying: “He was the best person for the job.
“Andrew stood out because he was confident and clearly cared about the school, as well as wanting to achieve what we want to achieve here.”
Mr Cutts-McKay said it would have been easy to respond to criticisms and get involved in back-biting with the school’s opponents, which also included leading teaching unions.
But he said: “I have been getting on with trying to make this school the best there is and to drive forward its ethos, which is based on Islam.
“It is an excellent moral code governed by respect, diversity and selflessness.”
Initially, the free school will admit 120 reception and year-one children, together with 180 pupils into years seven and eight.
Eventually, the all-age school will have up to 1,100 pupils.
Mr Cutts-McKay said: “During the day, the timetable will be flexible with time for Islamic teaching but pupils will be able to opt out of this and there will be a chance to learn about other faiths.
“We will honour all faiths and envisage a school where 50% of pupils are Islamic and the other half aren’t.
“We will have a high moral code and our educational standards will be the best.”