A LEADING Muslim figure has called for tougher guidelines to outlaw physical and sexual abuse against children at north west madrassas.
According to a report published by the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, the problem of abuse is "widespread" and that thousands of children were under risk of being abused by their religious teachers.
The report warns that the Muslim community could face the kind of child abuse claims that have scandalised the Roman Catholic churches.
Co-author of the report Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui said it is time the Muslim community stopped "brushing the problem under the carpet."
He said: "Up to 100,000 children are taught at 700 Islamic schools, or madrassas, of which almost a half use unlawful corporal punishment to discipline pupils.
"Each year at least a dozen children are sexually abused by their teachers and Imams with very few cases ever being made public.
"Because of the fear of child abuse some parents prefer home tuition instead, a practice said to be flourishing,"
He added: "If nothing is done now we may face an avalanche of child sex-abuse scandals, decades afterwards, similar to those that had rocked the Catholic Church in the 1990s.
"To protect the integrity of these valued institutions it is important that all madrassas put in place transparent and accountable policies and procedures for all."
The Muslim Parliament will urge the Government to establish a national registration scheme for madrassas, co-ordinated centrally and monitored by local authorities, to meet their legal obligations under The Children Act 1989.