 One might say that the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy K-8 charter school in suburban St. Paul is an Islamic school in all but name, except that that even its name is Islamic. Among other things, the school's principal is an imam and almost all of its students are Muslim. It is housed in a building that was owned originally by the Muslim American Society of Minnesota (I'm not sure who owns it now). The school has in any event had a mutually beneficial relationship with MAS Minnesota since the school's inception. The study of Arabic is required at the school. The Arabic comes in handy for the Koranic studies that follow the regular school day. The ACLU Minnesota has brought a lawsuit challenging the legality of the school's operation on public funds; the lawsuit is pending in federal court in Minnesota. Discussing the lawsuit, ACLU Minnesota executive director Chuck Samuelson observed: "The issue with TiZA, frankly, was the incredible commingling of church and state. It's a theocratic school. It is as plain as the substantial nose on my face." As a result of Samuelson's statement of the ACLU Minnesota's position in the lawsuit, TiZA alleged that Samuelson and the ACLU had defamed it, asserting several counterclaims against the ACLU Minnesota for amounts in excess of $100,000 (i.e., an unlimited amount). The ACLU Minnesota's lawsuit against TiZA is predicated on the establishment clause of the First Amendment as interpreted by the Supreme Court. I was quite sure that there was another clause of the First Amendment that applied to TiZA's counterclaims against the ACLU Minnesota, but even the common law of defamation provides that truth is a defense. As I I anticipated, Minnesota federal district Judge Donovan Frank has now summarily dismissed TiZA's counterclaims. In an order issued yesterday afternoon Judge Frank held that, as a public school, TiZA could not assert a claim for defamation. As to the merits of TiZA's defamation and defamation-related claims, Judge Frank held that "the allegedly defamatory statements all reflect Plaintiff's belief [that TiZA is illegally operating as a religious school] and TiZA has alleged no facts that would demonstrate that Plaintiff entertains any doubts as to the truth of its statements."
TiZA therefore had "wholly failed" to allege facts making out the actual malice constitutionally required to support a claim of defamation by a public official or, Judge Frank holds, a public school. In asserting its defamation and defamation-related counterclaims against Samuelson and the ACLU Minnesota, TiZA was taking a leaf from the old Islamist playbook written by CAIR. The irony in this case is that TiZA pretends to be a nonsectarian institution; it is this pretense that goes to the heart of the pending lawsuit. I spoke briefly with Chuck Samuelson about Judge Frank's order last night. He expressed the "hope that this counterclaim is really dead and that we can move this case along. These are issues that need to be aired and we await a speedy judgment." Power Line 
 THE GOVERNMENT of Saudi Arabia is planning to establish a school with an Islamic ethos in Dublin.The plans have been announced in Arabic on the website of the Saudi embassy in Dublin which opened in September.According to the notice, the decision to set up a school was taken at a meeting in Dublin late last month. The meeting was attended by members of the education committee of the Saudi Shura Council, an unelected body whose members advise the Kingdom's government, and Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Ireland, Abdulaziz Aldriss. "It was decided in the meeting to establish a Saudi school to teach the children of Saudi citizens and students residing in Ireland," the website says. The Saudi embassy insists the plans are at a very early stage, and a spokesperson yesterday declined to give further details. In a statement, the Department of Education said the Saudi government had not been in contact with the department regarding the matter. Speculation has mounted within Ireland's 40,000-strong Muslim community over how big the school might be, and whether it will cater for non-Saudi Muslims. According to the embassy, less than 15 Saudi families live and work in Ireland, and more than 400 Saudi nationals study here, though the latter number is expected to rise in coming years following the Saudi ministry for education's recognition of more Irish third-level institutions. Ali Selim, a theologian based at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Clonskeagh, Dublin, welcomed the plans. Asked about speculation within the Muslim community that the school may incorporate secondary education, he said that if this proved correct it would "achieve a long cherished Muslim ambition" in Ireland. The State already has a number of Muslim primary schools. ( more) Source: Irish Times
 By Robert Spencer Pakistan is, of course, an Islamic Republic, but why is it that "there is no compulsion in religion" (2:256) seems only to be invoked by Islamic apologists in the West, and never where it could actually do some good for non-Muslims in an Islamic state?
Hmmm, now why might that be?
Islamic Tolerance Alert from the Land of the Pure: "All students in Pakistan's schools required to study Islam," from AsiaNews, September 26 Islamabad (AsiaNews) - The new guidelines for school students in Pakistan requires non-Muslims to study Islam and ignore other religious traditions in the country.
The National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Church of Pakistan is critical of the National Education Policy 2009, launched September 9 by the government in Islamabad. Mgr. John Saldanha, Archbishop of Lahore and chairman of the NCJP, and Peter Jacob, secretary of the Commission are concerned about the often implicit discriminatory and coercive aspects of the new guidelines content. In a press release issued on 25 September, the two leaders of NCJP point the finger at Chapter 4 of the document, dedicated to Islamic Education. They claim that "If government thinks public education is not possible without a compulsory subject of Islamic Studies and Arabic, then we are forced to demand religious education for Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Parsi, etc. in their respective religions". The program drawn up by the Government contemplates that Islamiyat (Islamic studies) become compulsory until the 12th class (15 and 16 years). For students that from then on will not want to follow the lessons of Islam attendance of alternative courses of public ethics is permitted, but the Commission notes also on this front the discrimination, though latent, is clear.... Source: JihadWatch
 Muslim school websites are advising
students not to read Harry PotterBy Matthew Hickley Some Islamic schools are promoting fundamentalist views and encouraging children to despise Western society, a report warns. An investigation by the Civitas social policy think-tank found websites of some of the UK’s 166 Muslim schools are spreading extreme teachings, while a handful had links to sites promoting jihad, or holy war. Examples include web forums forbidding Muslims from reading Harry Potter books, playing chess or cricket and listening to Western music. The Civitas report, entitled Music, Chess and Other Sins, claims Ofsted inspectors are incapable of scrutinising Muslim faith schools properly, and demands an inquiry by MPs. Many of the websites featured in the report were shut down or edited in the hours before it was published. Islamic schools educate thousands of Muslim children. Most operate in the private sector although increasing numbers are seeking state funding. The study, overseen by Dr Denis MacEoin, a university lecturer in Islamic studies, looked at material found on Islamic schools’ websites, either content or via links. Read more ...Source: Daily MailH/T: Gramfan
 December 05, 2008
STUDENTS at an Islamic school in Brisbane sang Advance Australia Fair at a year-end assembly on Friday, as a furore erupted over claims it had banned the anthem.
Controversy erupted after a former teacher at the Australian International Islamic College told The Courier-Mail newspaper the school, in the Brisbane suburb of Durack, had “banned” the anthem.
But the school chairman, Imam Abdul Quddoos Azhari, told AAP the anthem was played at “every important occasion”.
School trustee Keysar Trad said news the anthem was not played regularly at school assemblies came as a shock.
“A quick investigation we did ... found that because they have a daily assembly at the school every morning, the principal came up with the idea - without getting the full board's endorsement - she didn't want to perform the anthem every morning,” Mr Trad said.
“The anthem is being performed at every special function we have.”
Mr Trad said the anthem was sung as recently as a graduation ceremony last Wednesday.
“Our school choir has performed the anthem at many other events, not just at the school but outside the school as well,” he said.
“Our school choir is fairly well known for their ability to perform the national anthem.
“We actually promote the anthem, because we like it.
“Personally, I love the content because it's full of these wonderful words which reflect values that we all share.”
Mr Trad said the anthem will continue to be performed at every school function. Trustees and the board will meet to discuss the logistics of performing the anthem at every school assembly.
“My personal recommendation is that it be performed at every assembly,” he told AAP.
He said the anthem was performed at the holiday break assembly at the school on Friday.
“Anyone can see that the children are standing up and performing the national anthem,” Mr Trad said. Source: The Australian
James O'Loan | December 05, 2008 12:00am
A MUSLIM school has banned the national anthem at assemblies and sacked the teacher who asked for it to be played.
Australian International Islamic College teacher Pravin Chand was sacked last month, four months after his proposal for students to sing Advance Australia Fair was ruled to be against the "Islamic view and ethos".
A memo sent to teachers in July also announced "the singing of the anthem will be put on hold".
Yesterday, the Brisbane school denied it had banned the national anthem at assemblies.
The school chairman, Imam Abdul Quddoos Azhari, said students sang the national anthem "at every function, on every occasion".
But Mr Chand, whose version of events was backed by a second teacher, said he had not heard the anthem once this year.
"No national anthem, to me, means no integration with Australian kids," he said.
"Western values (at the school) are a no-no.
"It's like a paramilitary camp, that place."
Mr Chand's employment was terminated by the college board on the ground that he was "not fitting into the school's ethos".
Outgoing principal Azroul Liza Khalid, who started at the school in July, said she had not heard the anthem at assembly, although it was played on two or three other occasions.
Ms Khalid said she was told by a board member not to play the anthem, or any songs, on a Friday because it was a holy day. In July, school assembly day was moved from Monday to Friday.
The revelations follow a public outcry over a plan by the same Brisbane college to open another campus.
A vocal crowd draped in Australian flags and playing local rock anthems accused the college of promoting segregation, anti-Australian values and even terrorism.
Muslim leaders said the protests were "un-Australian" and claimed religion should not be used as a reason to protest against a school.
Local Education Minister Rod Welford's spokeswoman indicated it was unlikely a public school had ever banned the national anthem.
"It's not compulsory for schools to play the national anthem," she said.
"There's an expectation it would be played on formal occasions when the Australian flag is being raised."
A Catholic education spokesman said: "I'm absolutely confident that no Catholic school has ever banned the playing of the national anthem and never will".
The future of the proposed 60-pupil college at Carrara will be decided by Gold Coast City Council next year. Source: Herald Sun
By Jeremy Pierce | December 02, 2008
PROTESTERS have swarmed the Gold Coast City Council headquarters, and with blaring rock anthems vented anger over a planned Muslim school.
Almost 200 residents turned out for the demonstration, draped in Australian flags and shouting pro-Aussie slogans while Australian rock classics such as Down Under and Great Southern Land boomed across the parkland, The Courier-Mail reports.
Australian International Islamic College, planned for Carrara, has raised the ire of residents who fear it will lead to the local Muslim population withdrawing from the rest of the community.
A rally last week attracted about 400 people, while people turned out yesterday carrying placards bearing slogans such as "no Muslim school, hell no" and "integration, not segregation".
Resident's spokesman Tony Doherty said Muslim schools did not encourage multiculturalism.
"It's segregation, not integration," he said.
"They're not trying to integrate into the rest of society.
"Since we have started protesting against this our churches have been covered in hate-filled graffiti."
He denied it was hypocritical to oppose Muslim and not Christian schools.
"Catholics aren't a different culture," he said.
"They are the same as us."
Some residents say they are opposed to the school more because of parking issues rather than religious grounds.
Mayor Ron Clarke has publicly said he would support the school as long as it satisfies the council's planning criteria.
The council will not make any decision on the future of the school until next year. If approved, the school is unlikely to open until at least the middle of next year. Source: The Australian
By Tarek Fatah
Friends,
Watch this newcast clip about the curriculum of a Saudi school in UK.
These Saudi textbooks are also available in US and Canada, but no one dares to challenge this hate material. Someday someone will have the courage to join the MCC in its lonely fight against the Saudi and Iranian hate machine that thrives in our schools and universities.
This hate does more damage to ordinary decent law abiding Muslims than anyone else.
Sad state of affairs. Source: YouTubeH/T: Shariah Finance Watch
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Copyright Muslims Against Sharia 2008. All rights reserved.
E-mail: info AT ReformIslam.org
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One might say that the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy K-8 charter school in suburban St. Paul is an Islamic school in all but name, except that that even its name is Islamic. 
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