Keighley MP Ann Cryer has called for checks to be carried out on madrassa religious schools amid fears that pupils suffer corporal punishment.

She said as it stands Muslim children are being discriminated against without the compulsory checks.

Sensitive work, such as with children or vulnerable adults, requires a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check to be carried out.

But Mrs Cryer fears this is not happening, leading to some children falling victim to bullying teachers.

She said: “I was told previously this did not need to be done because madrassas are private organisations, but so are Guides, Brownies and Sunday schools, and adults there have the checks carried out.

“If we are not doing this it is discriminating against Muslim children and implying it is OK to protect a white child but we do not need to offer the same protection for Muslim children, which is ridiculous.

“Unlike schools and other institutions dealing with children, madrassas are not subject to Government regulation.”

Mrs Cryer believes problems in madrassas are spread right across the north of the country.

She had hoped the problem, which came to light five years ago, had been resolved. But reports just out are claiming children have been slapped and kicked and other punishments handed out in the religious classes.

She added: “A number of people have written to me about this and I am extremely concerned. I have asked Bradford social services about CRB checks and what advice is given.

“It concerns me the impression Muslim children are not worth protecting is being given out.”

A survey by the Charity Commission found that as many as 70 per cent of mosques were unregistered.

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, head of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, said even the registration of mosques was limited in the type of protection that it offered children.

West Yorkshire Police said its officers did investigate cases of child abuse in madrassas and they were dealt with in the same way as any other child abuse case.

Government minister Sadiq Khan called for Muslims to take a stand. He said: “There is no place in Islam for child abuse. It’s pure village culture mentality. Everybody should expose this.”