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Groups Oppose Expansion of Virginia Islamic Saudi Academy

By Howard M. Friedman

The Fairfax County, Virginia Board of Supervisors held a public hearing yesterday on the proposed expansion of the campus of the Islamic Saudi Academy. The controversial college and preparatory school has close ties with the Saudi government. Fox News reported yesterday that a coalition of around ten groups oppose the expansion. The spokesman for one of those groups, James Lafferty, chairman of the Virginia Anti-Shariah Task Force (VAST), says as to his group's opposition: "We're opposed to the operation of the Islamic Saudi Academy because it teaches and practices Shariah law. Shariah law is anti-constitutional and we feel that it is the ultimate improper land use here in the state where the Constitution was created." Others object because one of the Academy's graduates was convicted of joining Al Qaeda and plotting to assassinate President Bush, while another was arrested for boarding a plane carrying a kitchen knife. (See prior related posting.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 14, 2009 (boomark / email).