Wall of silence broken at state's Muslim public school

[DeclinetoState]

http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/columnSig_kersten.png (http://www.startribune.com/bios/10645201.html)

By KATHERINE KERSTEN (http://www.startribune.com/bios/10645201.html), Star Tribune
Last update: April 9, 2008 - 12:02 PM

Recently, I wrote about Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights. Charter schools are public schools and by law must not endorse or promote religion.

Evidence suggests, however, that TIZA is an Islamic school, funded by Minnesota taxpayers.

TIZA has many characteristics that suggest a religious school. It shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, whose mission is "establishing Islam in Minnesota." The building also houses a mosque. TIZA's executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief.

Students pray daily, the cafeteria serves halal food - permissible under Islamic law -- and "Islamic Studies" is offered at the end of the school day.

Zaman maintains that TIZA is not a religious school. He declined, however, to allow me to visit the school to see for myself, "due to the hectic schedule for statewide testing." But after I e-mailed him that the Minnesota Department of Education had told me that testing would not begin for several weeks, Zaman did not respond -- even to urgent calls and e-mails seeking comment before my first column on TIZA.

Now, however, an eyewitness has stepped forward.
More (http://www.startribune.com/local/17406054.html)

[buckeyepete]

If I may,


Where in the hell is the ACLU when the USofA needs them?

I know, if it's not CHRISTIAN, IT DON'T FRIGGIN COUNT.

Where is the Department of Education?

Is Minnesota the first of our 50 to collapse?

[DeclinetoState]

Is Minnesota the first of our 50 to collapse?
Considering that Mini-SNOW-duh gave us Walter Mondale, it wouldn't surprise me.

Of course, similar sh*t could be going on in California, New York, and/or Massachusetts without anyone saying a word about it.

[Trance]

If I may,


Where in the hell is the ACLU when the USofA needs them?

I know, if it's not CHRISTIAN, IT DON'T FRIGGIN COUNT.

Where is the Department of Education?

Is Minnesota the first of our 50 to collapse?



That only applies to Christianty, since we know that Christians are the plauge of the earth.

[roguemerc]

Unfortunately, consistent civil liberties and consistent constitutionalism no longer seem to top the list of priorities for the ACLU.

[Trance]

Unfortunately, consistent civil liberties and consistent constitutionalism no longer seem to top the list of priorities for the ACLU.

Yes they're too busy trying to criminalize Christianity.

[DesertFox]

Toward the end of the article: The ACLU of Minnesota has launched an investigation of TIZA, and the Minnesota Department of Education has also begun a review.

TIZA's operation as a public, taxpayer-funded school is troubling on several fronts. TIZA is skirting the law by operating what is essentially an Islamic school at taxpayer expense. The Department of Education has failed to provide the oversight necessary to catch these illegalities, and appears to lack the tools to do so. In addition, there's a double standard at work here -- if TIZA were a Christian school, it would likely be gone in a heartbeat.

[DeclinetoState]

"The ACLU of Minnesota has launched an investigation of TIZA, and the Minnesota Department of Education has also begun a review."

Better late than never?