(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 2/8/2017) – The Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today announced the release of the Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices to help create a more welcoming atmosphere for Muslim students in Oklahoma’s school systems. CAIR-OK has seen challenges in the last year ranging from anti-Muslim rhetoric from an Oklahoma high school teacher to students being denied the ability to attend the weekly congregational prayer services.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Discipline of Dewey Teacher Who Allegedly Said, ‘Vote Trump if You Want (Muslims) Butchered’
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/religion/oklahoma-cair-calls-for-discipline-of-dewey-teacher-who-allegedly/article_8da3299b-e696-53cf-a850-6c39c7adee77.html
“This guide is intended to help teachers, administrators, and educational staff understand the needs of their Muslim students and families. We believe that education is the most important part of a young person’s life, and we want to help facilitate healthy and supportive classrooms for all students,” said Veronica Laizure, CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director.
SEE: An Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
https://www.cairoklahoma.com/resource/an-educators-guide-to-islamic-religious-practices/
The Educator’s Guide contains information about some common Islamic religious practices such as particularities of dress, dietary restrictions, daily prayer times, and major holidays. It also explains some of the legal responsibilities of public institutions and suggests some common ways that Muslim students and families are accommodated in the classroom.
“Unfortunately, we frequently receive complaints about bullying and denial of accommodations from Muslim students,” Laizure continued. “We are hopeful that this guide will help educators to treat all their students fairly and to make sure their Muslim students are a full and integrated part of the learning environment.”
The Educator’s Guide is available in print free of charge to any educator or administrator who wishes to obtain a copy. Contact Veronica Laizure at vlaizure@cair.com to request your free print copy.
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.