Academics & Education – Page 14

‘Female autonomy’ versus ‘betrayal’: Macalester closes, then reopens, art gallery after pushback from Muslim students Macalester added a content warning to an exhibit by an Iranian American artist, which explores women’s freedoms and Muslim identity. The artist, Taravat Talepasand, said temporarily covering her art with black curtains was an act of 'censorship.'

February 8, 2023 Becky Z. Dernbach

(Sahan Journal) A Macalester College art exhibit reopened Monday after a brief closure to address concerns from Muslim students. It’s the second time in recent months that Muslim students at private liberal arts colleges in St. Paul have raised objections to art […]

Nearly half of Dutch teachers witnessed classroom antisemitism: new survey

February 8, 2023 Ben Cohen

(Algemeiner) Antisemitism remains a “persistent problem” in Dutch high schools, with more than 40 percent of teachers in the Netherlands having witnessed an antisemitic incident during the last year, according to a new report from the Amsterdam-based Anne Frank House. The report […]

This school board just became the 1st in Canada to adopt a strategy to fight Islamophobia Policy comes after difficult history with anti-Muslim sentiment in recent years

January 26, 2023 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Six years ago, a school board west of Toronto was making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Security had to be stepped up after racist outbursts at board meetings, a man was filmed tearing pages out of a Qur’an during discussions […]

Hamline U. faculty call on President Miller to step down over Islamophobia controversy Hamline’s full-time faculty say the dismissal of an adjunct professor has harmed the university’s reputation.

January 24, 2023 Josh Verges

(Pioneer Press) Hamline University’s full-time faculty on Tuesday asked President Fayneese Miller to resign over her administration’s handling of a Muslim student’s complaint about an adjunct professor who showed ancient art in class that depicted the Prophet Muhammad. Various Hamline administrators have […]

Workshops help imams immerse themselves in Swiss reality

January 22, 2023 Olivier Pauchard

(Swiss Info) The Swiss Centre for Islam and Society at the University of Fribourg completed its first further education course for imams in autumn. Hansjörg Schmid, director of the centre, takes stock of the experience. The 12-month course attracted a great deal […]

Miami-Dade school district recognizes Eid, sacred Ramadan holiday, for first time

January 20, 2023 Sommer Brugal

(Miami Herald) The Miami-Dade County School Board approved the 2023-24 school calendar, which for the first time recognizes Eid al-Fitr, a holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month. The holiday, which falls on April 10, 2024, is designated as […]

East Brunswick residents push to get Muslim holiday Eid added to school holiday calendar

January 19, 2023 Unlisted Author

(News 12) Muslim families in a Middlesex County town are pushing to get a religious holiday added to the school calendar. Thursday’s East Brunswick School Board meeting was filled to capacity to push the district to add the Eid holiday to the […]

Trumbull Muslims seek Eid al-Fitr as school holiday

January 18, 2023 Eddy Martinez

(Connecticut Post) Mac Abuzneid chose to move to Trumbull in 2018 because of the local school district. But while he likes the schools, there’s one problem, he said. Abuzneid is one of several Muslim town residents who spoke at a recent Equity, […]

Greece’s Turkish minority sends letter to UN over its problems Troubles in minority education, discrimination highlighted in letter

January 17, 2023 Ayhan Mehmet

(Anadolu) Greece’s Turkish minority sent a letter Tuesday to the UN’s special rapporteur on minority issues about problems it is facing. The letter was sent by the Friendship and Equality Party (DEB) and was supported by numerous minority religious, educational, and civil […]

Hamline University leaders admit to ‘misstep’ in Islamophobia controversy as adjunct professor files lawsuit

January 17, 2023 Josh Verges

(Pioneer Press) The adjunct professor accused of Islamophobia for showing artwork in class that depicted the Prophet Muhammad filed a lawsuit against Hamline University on Tuesday as Hamline’s president conceded the school mishandled the controversy. Professor Erika Lopez Prater is suing the […]

Immigrant children must only speak German at schools, conservative lawmaker says Mario Czaja faces criticism over his controversial statements, immigrant organizations say speaking mother tongue is a fundamental human right

January 13, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Anadolu) A conservative lawmaker sparked criticism by suggesting that immigrant children must only speak German in schoolrooms, corridors and in the playground. Mario Czaja, secretary general of the Christian Democratic Union, claimed that many immigrants are poorly integrated into society due to […]

CAIR says Hamline University teacher is not Islamophobic The statement comes after CAIR's Minnesota chapter said the classroom viewing of a painting of the Prophet Muhammad was bigoted and disrespectful.

January 13, 2023 Yonat Shimron

(Religion News) The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement Friday (Jan. 13), saying an art history instructor at Hamline University did not act with bigoted intent when she showed a 14th-century painting of the Prophet Muhammad in a class last semester. […]

New House Homeland Security Committee chair has history of anti-Muslim comments During a 2016 tea party meeting, Mark Green told an audience that he didn’t want public school students in Tennessee to learn about the Islamic faith.

January 12, 2023 Rowaida Abdelaziz

(HuffPost) Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) is set to lead the House Committee on Homeland Security, which Muslim civil rights groups say is alarming because he has a history of making Islamophobic remarks. Green — a physician, Iraq War veteran and former GOP […]

‘Only one solution: Intifada’: Pro-Palestinian activists protest Kamala Harris at University of Michigan

January 12, 2023 Dion J. Pierre

(Algemeiner) Pro-Palestinian student protestors at University of Michigan accused Vice President Kamala Harris of “genocide” for supporting Israel on Thursday. “Kamala, Kamala, you can’t hide, you’re committing genocide,” the students, members of the pro-Palestinian campus group Students Allied for Freedom and Equality […]

CAIR MN backs student who says she was hurt by instructor showing image of Muhammad At a press conference held by the Minneapolis chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the student said she was shocked and pained by an art history instructor.

January 11, 2023 Yonat Shimron

(Religion News) Hamline University senior Aram Wedatalla held back tears as she described how hurt she felt when her art history instructor informed the class she would briefly show a painting of the Prophet Muhammad last semester. Speaking at a news conference held […]

Parents ‘in disbelief’ after ISIS flag sent out by Toronto school principal in email

January 10, 2023 Adrian Ghobrial

(CTV) For Canadians, and millions the world over, the infamous black and white flag flown by ISIS is a symbol of terrorism, death and persecution. When an image of that very flag was sent in an email to parents in October by […]

Academic freedom vs. rights of Muslim students An instructor at Hamline U showed an image of Muhammad in an art history class. The president criticized the instructor for doing so. Another professor, who tried to explain the situation with an essay in the student paper, had his piece removed.

January 3, 2023 Scott Jaschik

(Inside Higher Ed) This fall, an instructor at Hamline University, in Minnesota, was teaching global art history. For one class, the instructor (who has not been named) was discussing Islamic art and included for a brief period (under 10 minutes) a screen […]

Muslim children disconsolate as Sweden forces Islamic schools shut Swedish authorities have closed 17 private Islamic schools since 2019, claiming they're unfit to conduct school activities. But critics say it's part of 'anti-Islamic rhetoric'

January 1, 2023 Bashir Mohamed Caato

(Middle East Eye) Samsam Ahmad’s children, eight and 12, were inconsolable. They had just found out that their school in the Swedish capital Stockholm was closed down, leaving their mother at a loss of how to explain why they would no longer […]

IPT story on Al-Arian panel prompts Indiana University dean’s apology

December 27, 2022 Steven Emerson

(IPT) An Indiana University (IU) dean admits its School of Philanthropy “failed in our due diligence” when it invited deported Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) board member Sami Al-Arian to participate in a program about the war on terrorism and its impact on […]

Swedish court closes Muslim schools over Islamist ideology

December 26, 2022 Chris Tomlinson

(Breitbart) A Swedish administrative court has closed two independent Muslim schools in Stockholm and Uppsala after security police warned of the spreading of Islamist ideology and possible radicalisation. The administrative court in Stockholm closed the two Muslim schools this week after ruling […]

An academic is fired over a medieval painting of the Prophet Muhammad The dismissal of an instructor at Hamline University on baseless charges of 'Islamophobia' raises concerns about freedom on campus

December 22, 2022 Christiane Gruber

(New Lines) On Nov. 18, Hamline University’s student newspaper, the Oracle, published an article notifying its community members of two recent incidents on its campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota, one indubitably homophobic and the other supposedly Islamophobic. Both occurrences were placed under […]

City sprucing up more school cafeterias, offering more halal meals

December 21, 2022 Jillian Jorgensen

(NY1) The city will spend $50 million to spruce up 90 middle and high school cafeterias by the end of the year, with grab-and-go options and new kinds of seating. Along with expanding halal meal options, officials say it’s a way to […]

Deported Palestinian Islamic Jihad ‘master manipulator’ among Indiana University’s ‘distinguished’ panelists

December 20, 2022 Steven Emerson

(IPT) Every so often, Sami Al-Arian emerges to opine on some domestic issue, reminding us of two things: He’s an inveterate liar who continues to whitewash his years of service to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). And a disappointing number of American […]

Senior MP hits out at erasing extremists’ effort to take over UK schools Khalid Mahmood is concerned local schools in his city are at the centre of an ideological battle

December 11, 2022 Damien McElroy

(National-UAE) A leading British MP has spoken out against a concerted campaign to cover up efforts by extremists to take over UK schools and radicalise pupils. Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for a Birmingham seat and the longest serving Muslim in the […]

Over half of French teachers censor themselves to avoid religious backlash

December 11, 2022 Chris Tomlinson

(Breitbart) Over half of French teachers practice self-censorship when discussing issues of secularism, according to a newly released poll, in order to avoid possible religious backlash and protests. The poll, taken by the French firm Ifop, revealed that 52 per cent of […]

Sweden’s Supreme Court says ‘no’ to Islamic headscarf ban

December 9, 2022 Unlisted Author

(Local) Sweden’s Supreme Court has reversed the schoolgirl headscarf ban passed by the Moderate-led municipality of Staffanstorp in Skåne back in 2019, saying it breaks freedom of expression laws. Staffanstorp, where the Moderates rule in coalition with the far-right Sweden Democrats, wanted […]

Mosques file complaint against education minister over ‘radical’ schools

December 6, 2022 Unlisted Author

(Dutch News) Education minister Dennis Wiersma has been accused of breaking the constitutional ban on discrimination with his plan to target Islamic weekend schools suspected of fostering radicalism. An organisation representing Islamic institutions in the Rotterdam area, SPIOR, has filed a police […]

Islamophobia ‘relegated to Muslim issue,’ says Bradford author

December 3, 2022 Unlisted Author

(BBC) An annual campaign challenging Islamophobia is not being taken seriously enough by wider society, a Bradford Muslim author has said. While Islamophobia Awareness Month had just marked its 10th year, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan said it attracted limited interest beyond Muslim communities. Tackling […]

Stamford schools debate adding Eid al-Fitr to days off, put Columbus Day and Veterans Day back in class

December 2, 2022 Ignacio Laguarda

(Stamford Advocate) Columbus Day and Veterans Day — traditionally celebrated by Stamford schools with a day off — may be class days if a proposed calendar is accepted. On the other hand, Stamford schools are looking at adding an additional no-class day […]

Fairfield BOE to vote on making Eid a school holiday

November 30, 2022 Josh LaBella

(Fairfield Citizen) The Board of Education is likely to vote on whether to make Eid al-Fitr, a major holiday in the Muslim faith, a school holiday as well. The issue came to the forefront at the last meeting of the Board of […]

Muslim schoolchildren in London sing song calling for massacre of Jews

November 27, 2022 Deborah Brand

(Breitbart) Students from a Muslim school in London were taught a popular song about the Islamic apocalypse, when all Jews must be massacred, for an Iranian propaganda video, the London-based Jewish Chronicle (JC) reported. Dozens of children from the ages of eight […]

UK: Police investigating teacher for saying 9/11 terrorists were Muslims

November 22, 2022 Jack Montgomery

(Breitbart) A teacher has been referred to the police for referring to the fact that the September 11th terrorists were Muslims. The teacher’s remarks, couched in woke terms, were made in an attempt to dress down Muslim pupils who had heckled Khakan Qureshi, […]

Shamima Begum: Police and school ‘missed opportunities’ to stop her leaving UK, lawyers claim Questions have been raised over whether 'key indicators' that Ms Begum and her two school friends were at risk of being trafficked were missed.

November 22, 2022 Duncan Gardham

(Sky News) The police and her school missed opportunities to stop Shamima Begum travelling to Syria and joining ISIS and should have stopped her, according to her lawyers. There were questions about whether “key indicators” that Ms Begum and her two school […]

Legislation seeks to ensure halal, kosher foods available in hospitals, schools

November 21, 2022 Madhu Krishnamurthy

(Daily Herald) As suburban families prepare to come together this week for Thanksgiving meals, among the meat options they might find at the grocer are halal and kosher turkeys. Halal (permissible) and kosher (pure, proper or suitable for consumption) meats and foods […]

Home Office accuses UK Muslim student group of acting ‘dangerously and irresponsibly’ Federation of Student Islamic Societies plans to host anti-counter-extremism university tour

November 18, 2022 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) A British Muslim student group has been accused of acting “dangerously and irresponsibly” by the government for hosting an anti-counter-extremism university tour. The Federation of Student Islamic Societies (Fosis) is hosting a tour of seven universities, including three Russell Group institutions, […]

France shuts down 2 Islamic schools Small mosque in one of the schools in Montpellier also ordered to close, reports local media

November 17, 2022 Alaattin Dogru

(Anadolu) Two Islamic schools have been closed down in France’s southern city of Montpellier, according to local media reports. Officials carried out unannounced checks at the two schools on Tuesday and ordered the administrations to shut them down, news outlet Actu.fr reported […]

Sweden banning Islamic schools Closing Islamic schools is political decision with anti-Islamic motives, says Swedish politician

November 16, 2022 Leila Nezirevic

(Anadolu) Despite many being among the best-performing schools in the country, the Swedish government continues to close down Islamic academic institutions in a bid to push “anti-Islamic rhetoric” and “stop privatization” in education. Earlier this year, the Nordic country’s then-Educational Minister Lena […]

School board admits mistake using ‘Free Palestine’ as example of violence in dress code Advocates from London's Palestinian community say they were hurt to see the slogan in new guidelines

November 16, 2022 Isha Bhargava

(CBC) The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is facing criticism for using the slogan “Free Palestine” as an example of a label on clothing that could incite violence. The example appeared in guidelines outlining the new dress code for students. It sparked complaints from community […]

Why more Muslim Americans are choosing to send their children to Islamic schools Many Muslim parents are opting to send their children to Islamic schools because they feel secular schooling is heading in the wrong direction

November 14, 2022 Zainab Iqbal

(Middle East Eye) Abdullah Khan attended public school his entire life. The truth is, his parents had wanted to send their kids to a private Islamic school, but they just couldn’t afford it — and Abdullah believes he suffered because of it. […]

Republicans made massive gains with Muslims in the midterms. Here’s why

November 13, 2022 Reagan Reese

(Daily Caller) The Republican Party continued to gain more support from Muslim Americans in the 2022 midterm election as members of the community have rallied around parental rights and removing sexually explicit content from schools. In the 2022 midterm election, Muslims shifted […]

English-language school boards argue Quebec’s secularism law should not apply to them Lawyer for EMSB argues religious diversity is part of cultural DNA of boards

November 9, 2022 Steve Rukavina

(CBC) English-language school boards argued before the Quebec Court of Appeal Wednesday they should be exempt from Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — because religious diversity is part of the cultural heritage of English schools in Quebec. “The examples […]

Mount Ridley College student upset after teacher shows ‘explicit and blasphemous‘ cartoon A Mount Ridley College student has been left with 'psychological and mental trauma' after a teacher played an 'explicit and blasphemous' cartoon.

November 8, 2022 Suzan Delibasic and Susie O'Brien

(Herald Sun) A Muslim student has been left with “painful psychological and mental trauma” after an offensive cartoon about the Prophet Muhammad was shown in a year 11 media class. A teacher at Mount Ridley College in Craigieburn played an “explicit and […]

Muslim women most affected by Quebec’s secularism law, Court of Appeal hears School board lawyer tells court only Muslim women have lost jobs due to Bill 21

November 8, 2022 Steve Rukavina

(CBC) As the court challenge of Quebec’s secularism law — commonly known as Bill 21 — continues this week before the Quebec Court of Appeal, groups contesting the law argued Tuesday Bill 21 overwhelmingly discriminates against Muslim women. The Quebec government and several civil […]

Hearings on constitutionality of Quebec’s secularism law underway in Court of Appeal Opponents of law argue government's use of notwithstanding clause to protect law goes too far

November 7, 2022 Unlisted Author

(CBC) Opponents of Quebec’s secularism law — known as Bill 21 — argued before the province’s Court of Appeal Monday that the CAQ government went too far in pre-emptively invoking the constitutional notwithstanding clause in order to protect the law from court […]

Islamic School Amsterdam board must go, Wiersma insists

November 5, 2022 Unlisted Author

(NL Times) Education Minister Dennis Wiersma stands by his decision that the board of the Islamic School Amsterdam (ISA) must resign because of mismanagement, which he announced at the end of August. He has not reconsidered his decision after the ISA’s response. […]

Free speech or hate speech? Clifton candidate’s comments on Middle East may sway election

November 3, 2022 Deena Yellin

(Bergen Record) Eighteen months later, a city school commissioner’s critical comments about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians are dogging him on the campaign trail — and fueling a debate over political speeches during public meetings. Fahim Abedrabbo, a trustee on the Clifton Board […]

NUS president is sacked after antisemitism probe Shaima Dallali is dismissed as president of the student body after panel meets to consider the findings of KC Rebecca Tuck's investigation into antisemitism allegations

November 1, 2022 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Shaima Dallali has been dismissed from her role — following an independent investigation into antisemitism claims against her and the student body. Jewish News has learned that an NUS disciplinary panel has concluded […]

Dearborn divisions over LGBTQ books spur national debate as candidates compete for votes

October 30, 2022 Niraj Warikoo

(Detroit Free Press) Conflict in Dearborn over LGBTQ books in public schools has drawn national attention among Muslims as liberals and conservatives clash over differing views on religion while political candidates in Michigan campaign in the diverse Detroit suburb. Amid concern about […]

Muslim schoolchildren in France often denied food options that fit their faith Court ruling found offering alternate menu choices did not violate secularist principles, argue concerned parents in petition, saying their children often go hungry

October 22, 2022 Unlisted Author

(Anadolu) Although the subject gets little media coverage, the problem of food in French school cafeterias is a headache for many parents of Muslim students. Citing their version of secularism, some mayors have decided not to offer alternative menus in school cafeterias. […]

French teen handed jail term over links to Samuel Paty killing

October 19, 2022 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) A Muslim teenager in France has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison over her association with and support for the killer of schoolteacher Samuel Paty. Paty was stabbed to death in a Paris suburb after showing […]