ACLU scores victory in NJ

Aref Assaf

June 9, 2008

A while back , I read a sad story about how a Muslim student was forced to skip his 2006  high school graduation ceremonies because they were held in a Baptist church. The student felt insulted by the Newark, NJ public school's decision which disregarded the religious sensitivities of all its students.  We are happy to report the lawsuit which was brought about by the ACLU against the school has been settled.

Newark public schools apologized to the former student, Bilal Shareef, and his father and agreed not to hold future events inside houses of worship, under terms of the settlement announced Monday.

"The district has affirmed ... it will not conduct any school function or event in a place used principally as a place of worship ... unless the location is secular in appearance and any religious symbols are removed or covered," schools Superintendent Dr. Marion Bolden said in a statement.. Click on the link here to read the ACLU press release: http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/studentscaseensuresreligio.htm .  We stand humbled by the ACLU's devotion to the protection of the US Constitution and all the subsequent  civil and religious rights.