WHITE HALL, Ark. — A Facebook post shared by a local school administrator is getting national attention.
“It’s just completely inexcusable,” Shahriyar said.
M.D. Shahriyar is a 2016 White Hall high graduate.
He’s also Muslim American.
He was alerted Wednesday to a picture the high school principal, Mark Jelks shared on his Facebook page Sunday night.
It said, “Kick Islam Out of America. You can’t walk with God holding hands with the devil.”
“There are kids who are Muslim’s who go to White Hall High School, there’s quite a few, and I just can’t imagine what they’re feeling knowing that their principal don’t want them in the country, let alone the school,” he said.
The district administration responded Thursday:
“The district is absolutely committed to being an inclusive, respectful, non-discriminatory environment that places the student first. We do not support or endorse statements to the contrary. We respect the religious backgrounds of all of our students and families, including those who choose not to believe. We will continue to ensure our staff receives high-quality professional development.
As this is a personnel matter, the district cannot comment any further.”
“He’s creating division among students and the people of White Hall. He should be uniting everybody,” Shahriyar said.
While opinions on the post are varied, Shahriyar is looking for an apology.
“Hopefully this doesn’t happen again to any school in any area,” he said.
There is currently a formal complaint being drafted that will be sent to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Once it’s filed and if there is an investigation, we will not know until it’s concluded.
The Council on America-Islamic Relations out of Washington, D.C. has requested an investigation into the post by the principal.
