Middle East studies in the News

"Intifada" Comes to Brooklyn [on Khalil Gibran Academy]

by Ed Lasky
The American Thinker
August 8, 2007

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2007/08/intifada_comes_to_brooklyn.html

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/3837

The first New York Charter School for Arab girls is selling T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Intifada - New York."

The principle of the school, Dhabah Almontaser, said "I think it's pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society ... and shaking off oppression,"

A chance for girls tro shake off oppression that comes from being part of New York City society? How about the oppression of women that is rife in the Arab world? Women are more "liberated" in New York City than they are in Riyadh:

I do not think the proponents of charter schools had this sort of activism and education in mind. These are not the type of school uniforms contemplated by some advocates of charter schools-particularly when the principal is implicitly putting pressure on children to buy these shirts-which financially benefit an activist organization with which she shares office space.

The New York Jewish community is not amused:

Sale of the T-shirts, which prompted a critical news story in the New York Post on Monday, was condemned by New York state assemblyman Dov Hikind, an Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn.

In a letter to the New York schools chancellor, Joel Klein, Hikind said it is "outrageous" that Almontaser would "support and hail" the T-shirts.

"It is grossly insensitive," Hikind said. "I have had personal friends killed in the recent intifada. What is Ms. Almontaser thinking? If this is her mindset, a radicalized vision of Islam, she poses a danger to New York City students and she should be removed immediately. She has disqualified herself from being a principal in any New York City school."

What's next? T-Shirts with Arafat's picture on them?

Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.

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