Not Your Parents' PTA (Muslim-like charter school)

Powerlineblog.com ^ | 02/28/10 | John Hinderaker

[OldDeckHand]

We've written a number of times about Minnesota's Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TiZA), a charter school that appears to be Muslim in all but name, and is closely affiliated with, if not an alter ego of, the radical Muslim American Society. The American Civil Liberties Union is engaged in litigation against TIZA, in which the ACLU alleges that the school unconstitutionally promotes religion at taxpayer expense. That litigation has gotten quite bitter.

Our friend Kathy Kersten has done more than anyone else to shed light on TIZA and its relationship with the Muslim American Society through her columns in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Now, relying on court records, she details allegations of threats made against those who have provided information about the school's operations:

In January, the ACLU sought a protective order, telling the court that intimidation by TiZA was discouraging potential witnesses from appearing. ...

Elmasry is one witness who sought such protection. In January, he testified about TiZA's financial entanglement with the Muslim American Society of Minnesota at a Minnesota Senate subcommittee hearing on charter school lease aid. Shortly thereafter, Elmasry says in an affidavit, he was informed by a friend and TIZA parent that TiZA authorities had called a parent meeting, where they showed a video of Elmasry's testimony. Then, according to the parent's account, Asad Zaman, the school's director and an imam -- or Muslim religious leader -- accused Elmasry of talking to the Minnesota Department of Education and "selling" his "Iman," meaning his Islamic faith, according to Elmasry's affidavit....

[OldDeckHand]

If "Focus on the Family", or some other Christian advocacy group had managed to set up a Christian-like charter school - that's a school that primarily funded with tax dollars, federal and state - it would be on the cover of the NY Times. This school has apparently been open at least a few years, but I have never heard a thing about it.

[Cindy]

ON THE INTERNET:

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/tiza/index

[RoadTest]

Deport the Muslims.

[The Great RJ]

For once the ACLU is doing some good. I pity the poor substitute teacher who originally blew the whistle on the Muslim Academy to the school district. When the story broke a news team from the local ABC affiliate KSTP was roughed up by a Muslim goon squad when they tried to interview school officials so they are very capable of violance.

[rdl6989]

I’m shocked by the ACLU fighting against the muslims.