The principal of an Islamic school in Melbourne's west has allegedly banned girls from running in sporting events out of concerns it may cause them to lose their virginity.

Female students at Al-Taqwa College, in Truganina, were also barred from playing soccer as a sports injury could make them infertile, Fairfax has reported.

The school's regulator, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, is reportedly investigating the claims levelled at principal Omar Hallak, who earlier this year courted controversy when he suggested Islamic State was supported by western countries.

In a letter sent to education ministers and published by The Age, a former teacher at the college said:

"The principal holds beliefs that if females run excessively, they may lose their virginity.

"The principal believes that there is scientific evidence to indicate that if girls injure themselves, such as break their leg while playing soccer, it could render them infertile."

The teacher claimed Mr Hallak stopped the female cross country team from participating in a 2013 and 2014 district event, Fairfax reports.

The girls had been training hard for the competition when Mr Hallak realised they were set to compete and cancelled it.



The girls were reportedly distraught by Mr Hallak's intervention and penned hand written letters of complaint in which they expressed their disappointment.

"It was really shocking to find out it had been cancelled because the excuse girls can't run," one student wrote.

The teacher claimed she had worked at another school where both boys and girls had equally been encouraged to take part in sporting activities.

"I look back on my time at Al-Taqwa with frustration and anger, which is how I felt most of the time while I was working there," she said in the letter.

"I did my best to stay committed to the students however in the end, I was unable to provide the same opportunities to students that I was given when I was at a primary school, more than 20 years ago.

"It was really shocking to find out it had been cancelled because the excuse girls can't run," one student said in her complaint to the principal."

Education minister James Merlino has told 3AW the reports are concerning and the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is investigating.

"If true these are very concerning reports and I have asked the VRQA to investigate and report back to me," Mr Merlino has told 3AW on Thursday.

Mr Hallak courted controversy earlier this year when he reportedly told some students IS was backed by western countries as part of a plot to control Middle Eastern oil supplies.

Merlino labelled those comments 'reckless and dangerous'.

"They're reckless. They're dangerous and it leads to confusion in young people ... the best way to tackle radicalisation is through education of young people. The worst thing you can do is put reckless and dangerous ideas into their heads," he told reporters at the time.





Morning news break – April 23