Group tries to derail campus Islamic awareness week

By The Associated Press

10.14.02

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The group that sued to stop the University of North Carolina from assigning freshmen a book on the Quran is now taking aim at the school's plans to hold an Islamic awareness week next month.

The American Family Association's Center for Law & Policy filed an amended federal court complaint last week to try to block UNC from hosting seminars and round-table discussions on Islam Nov. 11-15. The center has filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network and three UNC freshmen.

"There's a lot more going on than we thought there was when we first filed our complaint," said Michael DePrimo, an attorney for the Center for Law & Policy.

The group filed its first complaint after the university's Chapel Hill campus asked all 4,200 incoming freshmen and transfer students to read and be prepared to discuss Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations, by Michael Sells.

It said the requirement amounted to state sponsorship of religion. A federal appeals court ruled in favor of the university on Aug. 19, hours before the sessions were to begin and they went forward as scheduled.

Although the complaint has been amended, much of the basis for the plaintiffs' accusations are the same. Attorneys plan to argue that by requiring the reading program and allowing so many campus activities focusing on Islam, the university is in essence trying to show the religion in a good light.

"The issue is whether or not the university is advancing the religion of Islam," DePrimo said. "And clearly they are."

UNC has 20 days to respond to the amended complaint, which was filed Oct. 4. The issue is to be decided in a federal district court in Greensboro.

"We will respond appropriately and in a timely fashion," said UNC's General Counsel Susan Ehringhaus, who declined further comment.

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Court won't halt student discussions of book about Quran
Federal appeals panel rejects arguments brought by Family Policy Network and three unidentified University of North Carolina freshmen.  08.19.02