(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 1/6/2017) – The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on Dewey High School in Dewey, Okla., to take disciplinary action against a teacher who used social media to urge support for then presidential candidate Donald Trump so that Muslims can be “butchered.”

CAIR-OK also called on the teacher’s school district to conduct diversity training for educators and support staff offered by the Muslim civil rights organization and other minority groups.

Media reports revealed disturbing Facebook posts by Dan Close, a teacher of American history and government at Dewey High School, including messages referring to Islam as a “death cult” and Muslims as “dog pigs” and calling President Barack Obama the “Imam in Chief.” Other posts, spanning several years, similarly targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community and even his own students, referring to the “Youth of America” as a “freak show.”

SEE: This High School Teacher Urged People to Vote for Trump So Muslims Can Be “Butchered”
https://www.buzzfeed.com/talalansari/high-school-teacher-vote-trump-to-butcher-muslims

“While we recognize that social media posts do not always reflect the views of an individual in his or her official capacity, it is shameful that an educator would choose to espouse such viciously biased, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic views,” said Veronica Laizure, CAIR-OK civil rights director. “We sincerely hope that the Dewey Public School District will not only discipline this individual, but will, more importantly, take steps to rectify this problem by embracing the diversity and cultural competency training offered by CAIR-OK and other local organizations.”

SEE: Fighting Islamophobia in Oklahoma
http://okcfox.com/news/local/fighting-islamophobia-in-oklahoma

CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani said: “CAIR-OK offers workshops, seminars and other resources that help educators and school administrators understand their Muslim students and families and suggest ways to facilitate open, supportive classrooms for all students. We look forward to working with the Dewey High School and its administration to bring our resources to educators.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure, 405-430-9877, vlaizure@cair.com; CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, asoltani@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com