Washington Times Article

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California school sued over Islamic drills

By Ellen Sorokin
July 10, 2002
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

A group of parents in California is suing a local public school district where at least one middle school, after September 11, encouraged students to wear Muslim robes, adopt Islamic names and stage make-believe pilgrimages to Mecca to learn about the faith. <snip>

"This is unbelievable," said Richard Thompson, chief counsel and executive director of the Thomas More Law Center in Michigan..."While public schools prohibit Christian students from reading the Bible, praying, displaying the Ten Commandments and even mentioning the word 'God,' students in California are being indoctrinated into the religion of Islam."

<snip>

According to the lawsuit, about 125 students dressed up in Muslim robes, studied Islamic proverbs and read verses from the Koran to earn points toward their overall grade. It said the students were required to say phrases such as "Allah Akbar," which is Arabic for "God is great," and memorize Muslim prayers, fulfill the Five Pillars of Islam and fast during lunch to simulate the fasting done during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"From the beginning, you and your classmates will become Muslims," the handout read. "Dressing as a Muslim and trying to be involved will increase your learning and enjoyment."

The students also had to pick a Muslim name out of a list of 30 to replace their name and had to organize a mock hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca using a dice game.

<snip>

"All the parents would have to do is pick up the book and see what their children are learning," she said.

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Read the Court ruling by Judge Phyllis Hamilton [a Clinton appointee] authorizing public schools to REQUIRE students to get on their hands and knees and pray to Allah by memory along with any other practices of faith "in demonstration." This ruling was upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court refused to hear it, thus allowing it as setting precedent, a tool used to uphold the decision in other states.

In my opinion, this reduces our children to slaves, for only slaves are reduced to "not believe" as they are forced to take the position and pray to foreign gods. - Jen Shroder 11/27/2010