The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is charging that a science teacher in rural Washington state made anti-Muslim comments in her middle school classroom.
CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization, held a press conference Tuesday morning and is now seeking an investigation by the Department of Justice, reported Seattle-area FOX affiliate KCPQ.
The kerfuffle allegedly occurred in October 2012 at Skagit County Middle School in Concrete, Washington. Representatives of CAIR say they contacted the Concrete School District after receiving a tip from an anonymous student. However, CAIR found the district’s response “inadequate and unresponsive,” according to the FOX affiliate.
The student who notified CAIR claimed that an unnamed science teacher was talking about an anti-bullying initiative during class. At some point, she abruptly declared that Arabs and Muslims teach their children to dedicate their lives to Allah from birth and raise their children to be religious martyrs. The teacher also allegedly remarked that Arabs and Muslims learn that killing innocent people is acceptable.
Such behavior is “just like Hitler,” she said, according to KCPQ.
Representatives from CAIR suggest that the teacher may have broken a host of state laws, including one which forbids religion-based discrimination in schools.
CAIR also says the alleged comments might promote bullying.
On Monday, Concrete School District Superintendent Barbara Hawkings released a statement saying:
“This allegation of unlawful or inappropriate discrimination based on religion is false. The allegation is based upon false information that is taken out of context. The teacher involved is an experienced and outstanding educator who treats every student with dignity and respect. She is a teacher students go to when they are having problems. The parent and/or student involved have never met with the teacher or school district to file a complaint or express a concern. We find this allegation to be irresponsible concerning an issue of great importance to our district and staff. We strive to treat every student with dignity and respect and do not discriminate against any individual because of his/her religious beliefs.”
The science teacher whose alleged comments triggered CAIR’s request for a federal investigation also released a statement, KCPQ reports. In it, she explained that her comments were taken out of context. She says was discussing extremist terrorist groups such as Hamas and the Taliban and did not implicate Muslims as a single group.
Ironically enough, as The Daily Caller reported in May 2012, the House of Representatives encouraged the Department of Justice to follow in the footsteps of the FBI in cutting off all non-investigative ties to CAIR.
In January 2009, the FBI ended its relationship with CAIR and its affiliates across the country due to the conviction of five leaders of a Muslim charity involved in the Holy Land Foundation terrorist funding trial, in which CAIR was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.
CAIR decline TheDC’s request for comment for this report.