http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1001537/Islamic-school-anthem-ban-sparks-controversyAn Islamic school in Brisbane has been accused of controversially banning the national anthem based on religious grounds.
A former teacher at the Australian International Islamic College in the suburb of Durack says he was sacked after asking for the anthem to be played.
Pravin Chand, who says he was dismissed last month, says singing Advance Australia Fair was ruled to be against the "Islamic view and ethos".
A memo to teachers at the Durack school in July, and obtained by The Courier-Mail newspaper, says "the singing of the anthem will be put on hold".
Outgoing principal Azroul Liza Khalid says she had not heard the anthem once at assembly, although she had on two or three other occasions.
Ms Khalid said she was told by a board member not to play the anthem or any songs on Fridays because it was a holy day, the newspaper reported. In July, school assembly day was moved from Monday to Friday.
School chairman Imam Abdul Quddoos Azhari denied the anthem ban, saying students sing it "at every function".
A spokeswoman for Queensland Education Minister Rod Welford told the paper it is not compulsory for schools to play the national anthem.
"There's an expectation it would be played on formal occasions when the Australian flag is being raised," she said.
Trustees of the Islamic school told the newspaper they did not know of the ban and supported the playing of the anthem at future assemblies.
Topic: Brisbane Islamic school bans national anthem (Read 676 times)