Religious schools, intolerance and incitement to violence

Three Islamic schools in the United States have generated controversy over their curriculum and religious teachings: The Islamic Saudi Academy in Virginia, the Khalil Gibran International Academy in New York, and the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Minnesota. This entry deals with the first one.

The Islamic Saudi Academy, as its name suggests, is run by the Saudi government. The Saudi ambassador in Washington serves as chairman of its board and it operates on two properties, one of which is owned, the other leased, by the Saudi Embassy. This official connection brought it within the purview of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which for years now has sought to obtain copies of textbooks in use at the Academy to see if they promote intolerance and hatred. The Academy had previously come to the attention of the general public when its 1999 valedictorian, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, was convicted of terrorism and attempting to assassinate President Bush.

The Saudis reportedly gave copies of the textbooks to the State Department, which has so far not given them to USCIRF. From other sources, however, USCIRF obtained copies of a number of textbooks. Its latest press release cites passages which state, for example, that it is permissible for a Muslim to kill an apostate, adulterer, or simply someone defined as a 'polytheist' (Shia and Sufi Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus or Buddhists).

The Commission wants the State Department to hand over the textbooks, so that their content and compliance with international human rights standards can be assessed. It also wants to set up a formal mechanism to monitor Saudi implementation of their commitments to revise the textbooks.

Meanwhile, a grassroots organization sought to delay renewal of the Academy's lease until this issue was resolved. The Fairfax County Supervisory Board, however, unanimously backed the Academy in a May 19 hearing, with the Chief Supervisor apologizing to Abdallah I. Al-Shabnan, the principal of the school, for slanderous, bigoted and unfounded accusations. Since that hearing, USCIRF has issued its analysis of textbooks and Al-Shabnan has been charged with obstruction of justice: he deleted the paperwork of a child abuse case, told the parents, and recommended that the child receive counseling. His hearing is set for August 1. For details on the curriculum battle, see Jihad Watch and Islamist Watch; for these other stories, see the Smooth Stone blog here.