In Northern Virginia local news, according to The Washington Post:
Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today urged the U.S. State Department to shut down a Saudi-supported Islamic school in Northern Virginia, until the school can ensure the U.S. government that it is not teaching an extremist ideology.
In a report released in conjunction with a Capitol Hill press conference this morning, the nine-member commission criticized what it called a lack of religious freedom in Saudi society and the promotion of religious extremism in Saudi schools, including the elite Islamic Saudi Academy.
[...]
Shabnan said the school had revised its curriculum in recent years and had removed inflammatory language that had been included in Saudi textbooks. He also said the curriculum might serve as a model for the Saudi government as it reforms Saudi schools.
Panel members said this morning they had attempted to get access to textbooks and curriculum at the school by requesting them from the Saudi ambassador, who serves as chairman of the school’s board. Despite promises from the Saudi government, they have not seen the material, panel members said.
“We’ve made every effort to get this information,” said commission member Felice D. Gaer. “They’ve made none.” In its report, the commission says that it has raised concerns for many years that the Saudi government and members of the royal family directly and indirectly fund the global propagation of “an ideology that promotes hatred, intolerance and other human rights abuses, including violence.”
This is the same school that convicted al-Qaida member Ahmed Omar Abu Ali graduated as valedictorian.
14 Comments
Sorry for the long cut-n-paste, WordPress © is acting up today and I’m not able to edit posts as I would like.
Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today urged the U.S. State Department to shut down a Saudi-supported Islamic school in Northern Virginia, until the school can ensure the U.S. government that it is not teaching an extremist ideology.
MrP,
What should the criteria be, as to what constitutes an extremist ideology? Who will be the arbiter?
vermontdave,
That’s a silly question! Why, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, of course! But anyway, one of the quotes that I wanted to include in the post (but after WordPress © crapped out 4 or 5 times, I decided to leave out) was this:
Now, if this is part of the Saudi school’s curriculum, I can understand why the ISA school does not want to make the texts available. However, it is the responsibility of all schools (private or public) to… oh, I don’t know… not advocate the killing of people of another religion. IMHO
I agree. The Saudi curriculum is wrong.
We don’t protest, too much, though.
That, I will never agree with.
The Israelis teach they’re children they are Chosen.
The various sects of Christianity and Islam teach that they are the Chosen.
And, ot, I know a dude who fought at the Chosin Resevoir.
He’s one of the last ‘Frozen Chosin’.
His war buddies still call him Gunny.
He was an artillery sergeant who was decorated for bravery many times over.
I think he is Chosen, even though he’s a Republican.
ps.
I have no point to this post.
Mr P,
I wonder what Umar has to say about this.
He goes to NOVA all the time!
What!
I thought Umar lived in St. Louis!
Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today urged the U.S. State Department to shut down a Saudi-supported Islamic school in Northern Virginia,
With a name like Commission on International Religious Freedom, I was expecting another A.C.L.U. type organization. Glad to see someone’s looking out for American interests for a change. And by that I mean, watching to see that radical, terror producing ideology is not taught or encouraged in the country.
I wonder what the ACLU’s position on this will be. Their support of the broadest possible interpretation of the First Amendment would usually indicate that they would come down on the side of the school, but if the school is itself a threat to religious freedom, as the Commission’s opposition to it would seem to indicate, they might not. They’ll probably play it safe, support the school, and let the courts decide.
It’s hard to know what the ACLU would say on this, as the ISA schools are not co-operating with the Commission. However, if the text books in use are like other Saudi texts, then the school will have problems in the U.S.
Mr. P,
Umar is from St. Louis.
But he always travels to NOVA.
REad his blogs.
I do remember that he had a post about some Muslim girl who went to GMU. He thought that she was kidnapped or something, but I think it turned out she was just with a girl friend. ?
Umar?
Yes, ⇒ » » » Umar. « « «.
h t t p : / / u m a r l e e . c o m /
You can learn all about “The Jihad of Umar” at the site listed above.
i go to isa
its great just leave us alone
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