A SATIRIST has defended a school teacher who was suspended after he was seen holding a coffee mug featuring the artist's Jesus and Mo comic.

The staff member at Colchester Royal Grammar School came under fire for alleged Islamophobia when he was pictured holding the white cup with cartoon depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ.

But the artist behind the drawings has said his comic is not Islamophobic and accused school bosses of "behaving disgracefully" in suspending the teacher.

Mohammed Jones - a pseudonym - created the Jesus and Mo comic in 2005, which satirises religion and featured on the teacher's mug.

Jones said: "I am upset about the teacher being suspended for holding a mug in the playground.

"There is no blasphemy law in this country. It is not an Islamophobic mug.

"Clearly someone has it in for this teacher and is using this as a way to get at him.

"The school is behaving disgracefully by playing along."

The teacher's mug appeared to show, in speech bubbles, the Jesus figure saying "Hey", with the Prophet Muhammad figure responding: "How ya doin'?"

For many Muslims, depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are forbidden as they are considered highly offensive.

The teacher has since been suspended from Colchester Royal Grammar School, the UK's ninth-best selective school according to the Sunday Times.

A spokesperson for the school said: “We have been notified an image has been shared online of an individual appearing to use a cup that has an offensive image on it.

“At this time we are looking into the matter.

“While we cannot comment on individuals, this will be reviewed in line with our policies and procedures and the appropriate robust action taken as necessary.”

Ofsted last year rated Colchester Royal Grammar School, which has about 1,000 pupils, as inadequate after finding that children were subjected to sexist and racist comments.

But inspectors found in a monitoring visit in February that leaders were taking effective action.