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Birmingham City Council has won a High Court order banning mass protests over LGBT equalities teaching outside a Birmingham school.

The council made the application following several weeks of campaigning outside Anderton Park Primary School in the city.

An exclusion zone will operate in the streets to halt any more gatherings in sight and sound of the primary school, that could disrupt pupils, or intimidate staff.

The interim order is issued against chief protesters Shakeel Afsar, Rosina Afsar and Amir Ahmed and all other 'persons unknown', and if anyone defies the order, they could face arrest.

The three organisers will have the chance to challenge the order at a further court hearing on June 10.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

The order, granted today (Friday May 31) at the High Court in London, states that no persons, including the three named individuals, can:

* Organise, engage in, or encourage others to engage in any protests against the teaching of equalities at the school within an exclusion zone (pictured below)

* Print and hand out leaflets, organise protest events or encourage others to do so

* Use social media to make offensive or abusive comments about any members of staff at the school around equalities teaching

Anyone who defies the order is liable to arrest, the order adds.

Birmingham City Council's lawyers made an emergency application for an interim injunction in order to stop protests starting up again when pupils go back to school on Monday after half term.

A spokesperson said: "We did so only after careful consideration and in the light of increasing fears for the safety and wellbeing of the staff, children and parents of the school when they come back from their half-term break.

"This is particularly so after the serious escalation of the protests in the week before half-term - including the attendance of very large numbers of people who have no children at the school, many of whom are not from the city."

(Image: Birmingham Live)

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: "I'm pleased that common sense has prevailed because children right across Birmingham should be free to attend school safely and without disruption. All our schools must be safe spaces and we will not tolerate the ongoing intimidation of parents, hard-working school staff and local residents.

"This interim injunction has been secured in time for the return to school on Monday (3 June) and now hopefully the pupils will be able to continue their education in peace for the remainder of the summer term.

"We'll continue to support the school and its staff and I would urge parents to take this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with the school about any concerns they may have."

The exclusion zone, pictured below, that is covered by the order is bordered by Stoney Lane, Taunton Road, Birchwood Road and Balsall Heath Park. The cul de sac leading to the school gates, Dennis Road, where all protests have been held, is inside the zone.

Shakeel Afsar - 'this is not the end'

Early news of the injunction drew a defiant response from lead protester Shakeel Afsar, who says he has a mandate from hundreds of parents to represent them.

He said he was yet to see a copy of the injunction so could not comment in detail - but added:

“Be in no doubt the campaign will continue. This is not the end but a beginning.

“We are not backing down."

He added: "When the community realises that people's views are being silenced, the people will rise up more firmly."

Coun Kerry Jenkins, who represents the area, said: "An emergency injunction is welcomed because children, staff and local residents must be allowed to go about their everyday activity without feeling fearful or facing such disruptive behaviour.

"This injunction obviously doesn’t resolve the situation and I urge those involved to stop these protests and instead redirect their energy into supporting constructive and honest dialogue."

The national spotlight has been on Anderton Park, a small primary tucked away down a cul-de-sac in Balsall Heath, part of Moseley, for the past two months after a group of parents said they were 'concerned' about messages about LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) equality and books being shared with their children.

The mainly Muslim parents said the messages conflicted with their religious beliefs about homosexuality, were not age-appropriate and had been introduced without consultation.

Protests began at the school gates - first attracting a small group but slowly swelling in numbers and noise. Shakeel Afsar, who is not a parent but uncle to his sister's two pupils, took up the cause on behalf of some parents, leading chants at the gates including ‘Our Kids, Our Choice’ and ‘Let Kids Be Kids’.

Last Friday was the biggest protest yet . The school was forced to close early ahead of the planned mass gathering - a move which was condemned for the impact it was having on the children.

Head teacher Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson has been on the receiving end of the increasingly hostile campaign against her, with calls for her to stand down.

Pressure was increasing by the day for the authorities to do something - anything - to bring the school gate protests to an end.

NAHT, the school leaders' union, has been supporting the schools under protest in Birmingham, as well as working with the DfE and others to try to bring a swift resolution.

A spokesperson said: “We welcome this decision, as it brings much needed respite for the pupils and staff at Anderton Park. Credit is due to Birmingham City Council for supporting the school in seeking the exclusion order.

"The important thing now is for the government to give clarity so that no more schools are faced with the kind of demonstrations that we have seen in Birmingham.”