Feds Recommend Closing Saudi School in Va.

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Feds Recommend Closing Saudi School in Va.

Thursday October 18, 2007 5:31 AM

By MATTHEW BARAKAT

Associated Press Writer

McLEAN, Va. (AP) - A private Islamic school supported by
the Saudi government should be shut down until the U.S.
government can ensure the school is not fostering radical
Islam, a federal panel recommends.

In a report released Thursday, the U.S. Commission on
International Religious Freedom broadly criticized what
it calls a lack of religious freedom in Saudi society and
promotion of religious extremism at Saudi schools.

Particular criticism is leveled at the Islamic Saudi
Academy, a private school serving nearly 1,000 students
in grades K-12 at two campuses in northern Virginia's
Fairfax County.

The commission's report says the academy hews closely
to the curriculum used at Saudi schools, which they
criticize for promoting hatred of and intolerance
against Jews, Christians and Shiite Muslims.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7005035,00.html

[PDJane]

1. Sorry, but

If you aren't putting money into the public school system, then you are not going to be able to dictate the curriculum, and you are going to end up with faulty socialization. That's what private religious schools do best.

[MADem]

2. I know RIGHT where that school is, too.

It's been there for awhile.

http://www.saudiacademy.net/index.html

[Trillo]

3. What about private schools that foster radical Christianity?

Like hatred of gays. Gonna close them down, too?

Hey, why not just shut all the private schools, cause they certainly seem to love denying constitutional rights, even as they shove brief constitution lessons down kids throats.

Oh, right. Hypocrisy rules.

[mzteris]

7. hear! hear!

If they're going after the Muslim extremists hate groups, then start right here with the homegrown fundamentalist "Christian" ones!

[Lasher]

4. I never realized that there were mideast-style Muslim schools in the US.

Guess I should have known. This is one big reason why the mideast is so screwed up. Just another faith-based initiative, I suppose.

[BushOut06]

5. What part of FREEDOM OF RELIGION do they not understand?

Unless they want to start going after ALL 'radical' religious groups - including those Christian churches and schools that preach hatred of homosexuals, Jews, and nonbelievers, they have no business whatsoever going after this school. Just because they don't like what they're teaching, is no reason to close it down.

[CRK7376]

6. So much for Religious Freedom

My area of NC is covered with Religious Schools. I sure wish they would close down a few of the Fundamentalist Christian schools instead of the Muslim School in VA....oh well. That's a big part of why my family and I have drifted way far away from religion. It's full of hypocrisy.

[rodeodance]

8. This is in the hands of the State Dept!

The commission does not offer specific criticism of the academy's teachings beyond its concerns that it too closely mimics a typical Saudi education.

The report recommends that the State Department prevail on the Saudi government to shut the school down until the school's textbooks can be reviewed and procedures are put in place to ensure the school's independence form the Saudi Embassy.

Messages left Wednesday with the State Department and the Saudi Embassy were not immediately returned.

[damntexdem]

9. Fire, ready, aim!

Anything not allowed by the Bushista government is strictly prohibited.

Apply at Gitmo for approval of your free speech rights!