Supreme Court rejects parents' complaints over Islam in school

October 3, 2006

WASHINGTON (RNS) The Supreme Court on Monday (Oct. 2) declined to hear a case from California parents who complained after their children were required to simulate Muslim worship and attire as part of a history class.

Jonas and Tiffany Eklund, parents of one of the students at Excelsior Middle School in Byron, Calif., petitioned the Supreme Court to take the case after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision in favor of the school.

The appeals court agreed with the federal district court, which said the course was merely educational and lacked "any devotional or religious intent."

Edward White, an attorney for the parents, argued that teaching by engaging in aspects of Islam violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids the government from establishing a state-sponsored religion.

White said the seventh-grade students were essentially indoctrinated into Islam and were not given an opportunity to opt out.

"The kids were given handouts saying that 'you and your classmates will become Muslims,'" White said. "They were divided into groups named after Islamic cities, they picked Islamic names and wore name tags with the star and crescent ... they simulated the five pillars of faith and experienced self-denial as a Muslim would for Ramadan."

He said children were given extra credit for fasting, but were not forced to fast. Some gave up things like soda or watching TV, he said.

The decision by the Supreme Court not to hear the case leaves no definitive ruling on what methods of religious appreciation may or may not occur in the classroom, White said.

"Why the court denied (the case), who knows," White said. "When they issued their denial, it was just that."

Linda Lye, an attorney for the school district, did not respond to requests for comment.

-- Keith Roshangar