Homewood Islamic school calls Sen. Tuberville’s comments “misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric”
By Ayron Lewallen
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HOMEWOOD, Ala. (WVTM) — An Islamic school in Homewood is on high alert after what it calls “misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric” from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.
This week, Tuberville appeared on a radio show and spoke against the Islamic Academy of Alabama of Homewood moving to Hoover. Staff, students and parents said his comments left them feeling scared.
Assistant Principal Stacy Abdein said the school hasn’t received any threats at this time, but they’re not taking any chances. Homewood police increased patrols of the school and gave them a dedicated officer.
“Social media has just exploded with negative comments and hateful rhetoric. We’re at a heightened state right now,” Abdein said.
Abdein said people at the school are disappointed by Tuberville’s comments.
“They’re confused and they’re hurt. They don’t understand why anyone thinks negatively about them,” Abdein said.
The administration at the school is pushing back on what they call “misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric” from Tuberville.
The comments come after Tuberville celebrated the Hoover Zoning and Planning Commission denying the school’s proposal to move its campus from Homewood. That was last Monday.
“I’d be very, very interested to see what they teach in this school,” Tuberville said in an interview with Rightside Radio on Monday. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t need to be here. We’re a Judeo-Christian country that believes in God. We believe in the Bible, and our forefathers built it off of that precedent. At the end of the day, we do not want to change.”
During the interview, Tuberville can be heard saying, “If you believe in the Quran and go by Sharia law and want to chant ‘Death to America’ and teach that nonsense in these schools, I don’t want you here … If you want to do it at home, fine. If you want to live here, but as long as you go by our laws and believe in the things that made this country great, I’m all in.”
Abdein told WVTM 13 she wants to be unequivocally clear that she and her staff aren’t teaching any Sharia law or political ideology—and would never do so. She noted the comments are hurtful.
“One of (the comments) is that there are 50 other Islamic countries. Go find another country to have your school in. What country should we go to? You know, this is our home just like it’s anyone else’s home,” Abdein said.
She added, “I think that the response has been indicative of the divisiveness that’s been happening in our country for some time now. I think it’s sad. It’s very sad to see my country in this state. We, like everyone else, pray for our country to be brought together. We pray for unity. We pray for peace.”
Abdein said the school is a “safe space” for everyone. She welcomes anyone to contact the school to set up a tour to find out what it’s really about. She hopes people will come with the right intentions to learn and be open-minded.
You can also learn about the school’s missions and beliefs on the website here.
“The Islamic Academy of Alabama has been dedicated to its students’ success for over 25 years,” according to its website. It received full accreditation from Cognia, the world’s largest international accrediting organization, which means it “meets globally recognized standards.”
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