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Arabic calligraphy lesson causes school security lockdown in Virginia | Arabic calligraphy lesson causes school security lockdown in Virginia |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A school was closed after a lesson in Arabic calligraphy prompted a wave of anti-Islamic complaints from parents. | A school was closed after a lesson in Arabic calligraphy prompted a wave of anti-Islamic complaints from parents. |
The school in Virginia in the US was sent "concerning" messages from across the nation after a geography teacher showed students the Islamic declaration of faith, according to local media outlet the News Leader. | The school in Virginia in the US was sent "concerning" messages from across the nation after a geography teacher showed students the Islamic declaration of faith, according to local media outlet the News Leader. |
Cheryl LaPorte, who was giving a lesson on the Middle East at Riverheads High School in Virginia, showed students the shahada - the statement of belief in Allah and Muhammad - so that students could try it for themselves and understand the complexity of calligraphy. | Cheryl LaPorte, who was giving a lesson on the Middle East at Riverheads High School in Virginia, showed students the shahada - the statement of belief in Allah and Muhammad - so that students could try it for themselves and understand the complexity of calligraphy. |
Some students refused to complete the assignment and parents organised a protest at the world geography lesson. | Some students refused to complete the assignment and parents organised a protest at the world geography lesson. |
The criticism forced the school to close down with all students still inside. Other schools had extra security posted at them. | The criticism forced the school to close down with all students still inside. Other schools had extra security posted at them. |
The local authority said the move was "based on concerns regarding the tone and content of those communications," according to a statement. | The local authority said the move was "based on concerns regarding the tone and content of those communications," according to a statement. |
Kimberly Herndon, who organised the protest, accused the lesson of being an attempt at "indoctrination". | Kimberly Herndon, who organised the protest, accused the lesson of being an attempt at "indoctrination". |
"She gave up the Lord's time. She gave it up and gave it to Mohammed," she said. | "She gave up the Lord's time. She gave it up and gave it to Mohammed," she said. |
The students were not asked to translate the statement or recite it, but to try writing the curves and dots themselves. | The students were not asked to translate the statement or recite it, but to try writing the curves and dots themselves. |
According to News Leader, the lesson was also found to be in line with Virginia Standards of learning for the study of monotheistic world religions. | According to News Leader, the lesson was also found to be in line with Virginia Standards of learning for the study of monotheistic world religions. |
Students will also do a similar exercise when they study China. | Students will also do a similar exercise when they study China. |
But after "voluminous" calls and emails to the school, a meeting was attended by about 100 people where several parents called for Ms LaPorte to be fired. | But after "voluminous" calls and emails to the school, a meeting was attended by about 100 people where several parents called for Ms LaPorte to be fired. |
Eric Bond, Augusta County superintendant, said the lesson was an objective study of a historical tradition and belief system. | Eric Bond, Augusta County superintendant, said the lesson was an objective study of a historical tradition and belief system. |
"Neither these lessons, nor any other lesson in the world geogrpahy course, are an attempt at indoctrination to Islam or any other religion, or a request for students to renounce their own faith or profess any belief," he said in a press statement, according to the News Leader. | "Neither these lessons, nor any other lesson in the world geogrpahy course, are an attempt at indoctrination to Islam or any other religion, or a request for students to renounce their own faith or profess any belief," he said in a press statement, according to the News Leader. |
"Each of the lessons attempts objectively to present world religions in a way that is interesting and interactive for students." | "Each of the lessons attempts objectively to present world religions in a way that is interesting and interactive for students." |
Islamophobic incidents in the US have risen since the Paris shootings and San Bernardino shootings, according to Al Jazeera. | Islamophobic incidents in the US have risen since the Paris shootings and San Bernardino shootings, according to Al Jazeera. |
Islamic calligraphy is believed to have historical roots in Persian culture from the 10th century. | Islamic calligraphy is believed to have historical roots in Persian culture from the 10th century. |
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