Publisher receives death threats over Islamic homework assignment

ROSWELL, Ga.,None — Roswell police tell Channel 2 Action News they are looking into online threats posted against the owner of a publishing company that provided teaching materials that one parent complained promoted Islam and polygamy.

The materials were sent home with seventh-grade students at Campbell Middle School in Smyrna.

One parent showed Channel 2’s Tom Regan the papers that were supposed to be part of an assignment to provoke discussion on school dress policy.

It included a letter from a Muslim woman who talked of the benefits of wearing a burqa, and stated she would not mind if her future husband had multiple wives.

The assignment also criticized the way Western women dress as “horribly immodest.”

The parent who spoke with Regan didn’t blame the publisher, but instead complained that the school sent home materials that were out of context and inappropriate for middle school students.

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Even so, several websites and blogs have posted threats against the publisher. One stated, “There will be a blood bath.”

“She’s taking it very seriously. She doesn’t want these threats or people coming to her home.” Roswell police spokeswoman Lisa Holland said.

In response to the controversy, the publisher emailed a statement to Regan. The company said the materials sent home were a small part of a much larger program on Middle Eastern studies.

“Due to this manner of use, the material from our unit was misinterpreted. Taken as a whole, the lesson does not espouse any specific beliefs or tenets. We are deeply saddened that this has occurred,” the statement said.

The publisher, InspireEd, also stated the curriculum is approved by the state Department of Education.

Roswell police told Regan they have assigned a detective to the case and will provide extra security to the publisher.

WSBTV