The Citadel[1], the prestigious SC military college, has denied a prospective Muslim student's request to wear a hijab - but the issue is far from resolved.
Rosa said[2] the student's request to wear the headscarf[3] was given "considerable review" by the college in Charleston, and he added the school[4] hoped the admitted student would still enroll.
But the woman will not attend the school unless there is a change, a spokesman for the family, Ibrahim Hooper with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., said Tuesday.
"They were obviously heartbroken", Hooper said, speaking for the family.
CAIR said[5] in a press release that it is "considering legal options to challenge" the decision.
On Tuesday, Pinelli called the school's decision not to allow the student to wear hijab "thoughtful[6]". "We view it as a continuation of the civil rights movement". Former Muslim student Abdulrahman Muhammad, who graduated in 2015, said the military college provided him with halal meals[7] and transportation to a mosque in Charleston for religious services.
Mr. Rosa said the school is proud of its diverse student body, noting that several Muslim students attend the academy.
More news: U.S. polls for 2016 presidential elections[8]More news: Brazil's Interim President May Remain In Office Till 2019[9]
More news: Danny Simpson free to party with Leicester teammates after judge lifts curfew[10]
"There are Muslim women wearing hijab in our nation's military", he said in comments reported by the newspaper.
Rosa says while the request was rejected, religious beliefs are respected at The Citadel and freshman cadets meet with a number of faith-based organizations from the community. "It's not the cross that they care about", he said.
The student's request first came to light in April, after another cadet, Nick Pinelli, wrote a Facebook post[11] expressing his thoughts on the Citadel's decision to consider making the religious accommodation. Hooper then went on to insist that Mennonite women wouldn't face the same obstacles, which is hilarious because Mennonites are pacifists so there really aren't any records of Mennonite women beating down the doors to get in The Citadel, but whatever.
Although the ACLU is citing the state's RFRA to protect Muslim practice, the group has said it does not support such laws, which have the potential to protect religious dissenters from participating in same-sex wedding celebrations.
"This process reflects an initial relinquishing of self during which cadets learn the value of teamwork to function as a single unit", he added. "This decision is one that focuses on both the importance of freedom, as well as the importance of the 174-year-strong system that has bettered thousands of lives and has created thousands of leaders in the public and private sectors". The Citadel also offers accommodations for cadets' prayer and dietary needs.
Citadel cadets are required to wear uniforms almost all the time.
References
- ^ The Citadel (www.citadel.edu)
- ^ said (www.washingtonpost.com)
- ^ headscarf (arabsinamerica.unc.edu)
- ^ the school (www.youtube.com)
- ^ CAIR said (abcnews.go.com)
- ^ thoughtful (www.facebook.com)
- ^ halal meals (www.postandcourier.com)
- ^ U.S. polls for 2016 presidential elections (gosporttimes.com)
- ^ Brazil's Interim President May Remain In Office Till 2019 (gosporttimes.com)
- ^ Danny Simpson free to party with Leicester teammates after judge lifts curfew (gosporttimes.com)
- ^ wrote a Facebook post (www.facebook.com)
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