Controversy in the US after the university fired a professor who showed images of Muhammad

A american university is the target of criticism for having fired a teacher who showed images of the prophet Muhammad in class.

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Hamline University, in the state of Minnesota, in the northern United States, “acknowledges that it did not renew the contract of an art history professor last semester following a complaint from a Muslim student,” the freedoms group said. FIRE civilians in a complaint filed Jan. 4 with the American Council of Higher Education.

The student considered that the fact that the teacher “showed in class, optionally, a 14th century painting depicting the Prophet Muhammad as part of a discussion on Islamic art” violates her religious beliefs, the organization added.

Islam, in its strict interpretation, prohibits any depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

The FIRE association considers that doing without the professor constitutes “a clear violation” of university regulations that require “guaranteeing freedom of expression and (…) academic freedom.”

Erika López Prater, a substitute teacher, had already shown another image of the prophet during her online course in October, but repeatedly invited students to leave the class if they wanted to, various US media reported.

The university accused her of Islamophobia and she apologized. Although it was in vain.

“Respect for students professing the Muslim faith in this class should have taken precedence over academic freedom,” Hamline University President Fayneese Miller said in an email quoted by The New York Times.

“If an art history professor cannot show college students an essential piece of art for fear that the students or offended group might get him or her fired, then there is no guarantee of academic freedom at this institution and no compromise. with higher education”, reacted the Academic Freedom Alliance association in an email sent to the university dated early January, in which it demands the immediate reinstatement of López Prater.

A petition on the Change.org site in support of the academic and calling for an investigation has gathered more than 7,600 signatures since December 24.

In France, a history and geography teacher was stabbed and beheaded near the high school where he taught in 2020 by a radicalized 18-year-old who accused him of showing cartoons of Muhammad in class.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.