School links to Islamism prompt concern
Public funded school links to Islamism prompt concern from local school teacher and her response group
Local teacher Sara Springer told PRB News her “radar” sprang to life when she learned Dhabah (Debbie) Almontaser would be principal of a newly formed Arabic-English school in Brooklyn, New York.
What she learned bout the would-be principal alarmed her, especially because the Arabic-English school would be part of a public-funded program.
“When I first heard about Khalil Gibran International Academy I began researching the founding principal [Almontaser] and individuals and organizations she brought to the school,” she said.
For instance, Almontaser publicly expressed her satisfaction with how the school would reflect her personal views.
Springer quickly connected this to Almonstaser’s beliefs of America as a racist country, at fault for 9/11, and wrong to wage the “War on Terror.”
These views, and other political agendas, would likely be a part of the indoctrination of students.
Springer said parents across the country are discovering their public schools, the curricula and textbooks, are including more and more Islamic Shari’a ideology.
She started a citizens group to respond to the New York City problem - Stop the Madrassa Coalition - last spring in response to suspected Islamist infiltration at the Arabic school.
By August, Almontaser was asked to resign as principal of Khalil Gibran because of the public outcry over her position on Arab-Israeli conflicts, including the famed intifada movement.
At issue were aspects of the “shaking off” political movement links to murderous insurrection involving Hamas, Islamist Muslims leading terrorist attacks against Israel.
Almontaser came to be noted for endorsing New York City pro-intifada t-shirts sold by Arab women at local Arts and Media events; she refused to back down from the controversy.
Danielle Salzberg, an administrator who had created the school’s vision side-by-side with Almontaser, received appointment as interim Principal.
The main partnering organization for Khalil Gibran is the Arab American Family Support Center, which has links to organizations and community members that raised concerns with Stop the Madrassa’s growing membership.
A curriculum link at the Arab American center website led to what Springer characterized as an Islamist radical group, the Council on Islamic Education.
That group’s approach to teaching Arabic, Arab culture and history, she said, refers to the religious prophet Muhammad and to the Qur’an as divine revelation, in its curriculum guides.
The website provides instructions for teaching Islamist religious ideology at public schools.
The Council on Islamic American Relations actively supports Khalil Ghibran as well. It was named as an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorist fund-raising federal trial.
The American Midleast Leadership Network is slated to partner with the school, giving students trips to Middle Eastern countries, internships, after-school leadership programs and intensive language education, according to the school’s executive summary.
Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid of the Mosque of the Islamic Brotherhood is included in the school’s religious advisory board.
Abdur-Rashid prominently displays the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood pledge of allegiance as part of its literature.
Since opening in September, Khalil Gibran has changed administrative hands again, with another interim Principal, Holly Reichart, recently replacing Salzberg.
[Special to PRB News by contributing reporter, Debra Ferrell.]