Virginia county closes schools as Islam assignment prompts parents’ backlash

RUETERS
By Reuters Staff

The shahada, the Muslim profession of faith, in a ceramic tile from Iznik, Turkey

VIRGINIA---Schools in a Virginia county closed on Friday as a safety precaution after a class assignment asking students to practice Arabic calligraphy using a Muslim statement of faith sparked an angry outcry from parents and threats against school officials. Augusta County Public Schools officials said no specific threat had been made against students, but some calls and emails received by the district posed a risk of harm to school officials. [link]