Leading Muslim women's campaigner Shaista Gohir was appointed OBE last year (pictured right: stock image)

A leading Muslim women's campaigner says making young children wear the hijab is as bad as youngsters having spray tans and pole dancing lessons.

Shaista Gohir, of the Muslim Women's Network, made the remark as she defended a Catholic school which has banned a four-year-old girl from wearing the headscarf.

And she insisted that it was not a requirement of the faith for young girls of that age, claiming the move could 'sexualise' children.

The MailOnline canvassed parents at this school this afternoon, with opinion split on whether or not the school was right to impose the ban.

One Muslim woman, who has four children at the school and who did not want to be named, said: 'The girl in question is my daughter's best friend.

'It's her own decision to wear the hijab. Her parents aren't forcing her.

'What I find ridiculous is the fact that Sikhs are allowed to their turbans and certain other religions are permitted to follow their rules, but Muslims are being singled out.

'Last year, lots of children were wearing hijabs. It has just been since September that this new policy has come into place.

'She has been told if she continues to wear it that she will have no break times, no swimming lessons and will be excluded from class trips.

'She was absolutely devastated. She is a young girl who was making her own decision which should be praised. She went home crying and was really upset.

'Her mum let's her wear the hijab at home now instead, but it shouldn't be that way.'

The mother's friend, another Muslim woman who has three girls at the school, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Girls are wearing their hijabs on the way to school and then taking them off at the school gates because they are so scared of the repercussions.

Somiya Bibi and Parveen Achtar (shown together, left) both agreed the school was in the right, while Emina Ali (shown with her son Hassan, 8) said she could see both sides of the argument

Ms Gohir says the hijab is designed to discourage sexual advances from men and so enforcing it on young children could be 'sexualising' them

Clare Duffey, 28, (pictured) said it was important for students to follow the rules of the school

'I don't know if the headteacher has imposed this or the Catholic Church. Lots of the teachers and dinner ladies wear hijabs and they are role models to the children.'

It comes after campaigner Ms Gohir said the hijab is designed to discourage sexual advances from men and enforcing it on young children could be 'sexualising' them.

'We challenge parents who spray tan or give pole dancing classes to seven-year-olds, so we should be challenging Muslim parents who make young children wear the hijab,' she said.

'I've seen girls of two wearing them. We should let children be children.'

She added that St Clare's School in Handsworth, Birmingham, was within its rights to set its own uniform policy - and criticism of it had been unfair.

Ms Gohir said the hijab is designed to discourage sexual advances from men and enforcing it could be 'sexualising' children

'While schools do have to be inclusive, they haven't done anything wrong because there is no Islamic requirement for a four-year-old to wear a headscarf,' she explained.

'What is the need to put a headscarf on a four-year-old? Because it is not a part of faith.

'I would personally not like to see it normalised for four and five-year-olds to be wearing headscarfs,' she continued.

'In the current climate there is so much negativity towards Islam. By saying it is part of faith, when it isn't - or normalising it - is not a good thing.'

She explained that it the hijab is not suggested until girls reach puberty.

'But as it is not a matter of faith, the school is as entitled to tell children not to wear it as they are to stop a child wearing trainers or even a Superman costume,' said Ms Gohir.

'Let them be children, they've got their whole life to wear a headscarf if they want to.'

The row erupted after Birmingham City Council's Labour cabinet member for equalities, Waseem Zaffar, announced on Facebook that he was challenging the school's ban.

Faith schools are free to set their own uniform policy. Coun Zaffar (Lozells and East Handsworth) wrote on Facebook that he had met with the headteacher and told her the ban on the scarf was against the equalities act.

He added: 'I'm insisting this matter is addressed asap with a change of policy.'

Parent Munazza Jabeen, 44, said: 'I think if parents want their child to cover their face from such a young age, then it's far too restrictive.

'I am very strongly against allowing it. "They shouldn't put her in a Catholic school. The guidelines are very clear so they should adhere to them.'

Ms Gohir added that St Clare's School in Handsworth, Birmingham, was within its rights to set its own uniform policy - and criticism of it had been unfair.

Another parent, who gave her name as Sameena, said: 'She is far too young to be wearing a hijab. I think the teachers are doing the right thing.'

Rosemary, a woman who has a four-year-old son who attends St Clare's, said: 'I do not think a little girl should wear a hijab.

'Children that young don't understand religion and would question why someone was different.

'I think it would make her feel excluded. "I don't have any views on religion, but that's my personal opinion.'

One father, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I think it's very wrong that they are taking away her freedom. She should be allowed to express her religion.'