Watchdog Panel Concerned Textbooks at a Saudi-Run Academy Promotes Violence

June 13, 2008

Author: Ashly McGlone

Source: Religion News Service/Beliefnet

https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/news/2008/06/watchdog-panel-concerned-textb

A federal religious freedom watchdog panel says it has reviewed textbooks used in a Saudi-run school in northern Virginia and confirmed that they contain passages that promote violence and intolerance.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said Wednesday (June 11) that the most troubling elements of the textbooks at the Islamic Saudi Academy refer to the interpretation of the Quran.

Excerpts from "Tafsir," a Quran interpretation book for 12th graders, state that it is permissible for a Muslim to kill an apostate, an adulterer, or someone who has murdered a Muslim intentionally, the commission said.

Another textbook, "Tawhid," says Muslims may take the life and property of followers of "polytheism" faiths, which the panel said would include Christians, Jews, Shi'a and Sufi Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists.