Wake Forest Stands By Its Muslim Chaplain, Despite Call For Donor Boycott Until Views Of ‘Radical Jihadist’ Can Be Debated
Wake Forest University’s president took a public stand Wednesday in support of the school’s imam, who has been targeted by an alumni campaign labeling him a radical jihadist and calling for a boycott of donations.
The ongoing debate over the role of Islam in U.S. life has in the past several weeks flared up in a 100-mile span of North Carolina, where the state’s four most prominent colleges have each been affected either by tragedy or controversy.
Last month nearby Duke University canceled plans to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer from its iconic chapel bell tower after a backlash; while supporters called the initiative inclusive, opponents pointed to recent terrorist attacks overseas, and questioned why the school would choose such a prominent Christian place of worship for the call.
And Muslims around the world rallied around three North Carolina students who were shot Tuesday night in Chapel Hill. Police said initial investigations suggested a long-running dispute between neighbors over parking. But many interpreted it as an anti-Islamic crime, saturating social media with messages such as #MuslimLivesMatter.
Imam Khalid Griggs was named Associate Chaplain for Muslim Life at Wake Forest in 2010. At the time, the university president’s Nathan Hatch, a nationally known theologian said, “This position will promote an even broader dialogue among people of different faith traditions and encourage a greater awareness of differing beliefs, both of which are critical to enriching the quality of our campus community.”
Source: www.washingtonpost.com