HS Coach Fired For Trying To Convert Muslims

From the Detroit News:

The Islamic Center of America, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is America’s biggest mosque.

Fordson High coach let go after parent tried to convert Muslims

Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News

DEARBORN — A veteran wrestling coach at Fordson High School lost his job amid concerns that his one-time assistant, who is a local minister and parent of a wrestler, attempts to convert local Muslim youths to Christianity.

The decision not to renew the contract of Jerry Marszalek, a coach for 35 years at Fordson, sparked a firestorm of controversy, with 200-300 parents packing a Board of Education meeting Tuesday night to support the decision of the school’s principal, Imad Fadlallah. The board directed administrators to consider reviewing the source of complaints against Fadlallah.

The developments occurred as officials and parents grapple with conflicts over faith, education and the future of a predominantly Muslim school, amid one of the largest Arab populations in the country…

According to Marszalek, parents and community leaders, Fadlallah and other parents have long been concerned about contacts between the wrestling team and a local clergyman, the Rev. Trey Hancock of the Dearborn Assembly of God.

Hancock, who helped Marszalek with the team for 10 years, and whose son, Paul, is now a member, confirmed that he attempts to convert Muslim youths to Christianity and that he baptized a 15-year-old Muslim student in Port Huron a few years ago.

Meanwhile, Hancock’s publicized attempts to convert a Muslim girl are at issue in a divorce case pending in the Michigan courts.

Hancock insisted that he never attempted a conversion as part of his work with the wrestling team, or on school grounds. But when asked if he understood the concerns of Muslim parents, he said, “I consider it my work to pastor to anyone who is within my reach. So I can imagine they would be concerned. But is the Dearborn Public Schools going to be dictating what every pastor can or cannot do within his congregation?”

Marszalek says he was aware for 10 years that Hancock’s activities “might be a problem,” but the clergyman never discussed religion with the athletes or students in his presence.

“The principal has never, ever attended a practice or a wrestling meet,” Marszalek said. “But he makes judgments on the team according to which Arabic parent complains about another parent, who is a Christian minister, and I get lumped in.”

Fadlallah was not available for comment.

Marszalek said he has not participated in any religious activities with Hancock at Fordson…

“I was told it was a school board decision, and I should get my own lawyer,” Marszalek said…

“There is a clique involved in joint efforts with outsiders, including fanatical Christians, to squeeze Mr. Fadlallah out of Fordson High School,” said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “Before Mr. Fadlallah became principal, there were many problems. He has changed much.”

School Superintendent John Artis said Tuesday that he determined that an allegation that Fadlallah had slapped a student was unfounded.

After students and parents asserted that they were offended by statements made against Fadlallah by some members of the education staff, the Board of Education directed Artis and the administration to consider an investigation of both complaints about Fadlallah’s leadership and of those making the complaints…

Apparently “guilt by association” is fine under Sharia law.

After students and parents asserted that they were offended by statements made against Fadlallah by some members of the education staff, the Board of Education directed Artis and the administration to consider an investigation of both complaints about Fadlallah’s leadership and of those making the complaints…

And apparently so is prosecuting “whistleblowers.”

Still, we should look on the bright side. At least they didn’t decapitate Mr. Marszalek and burn down the school.

At least not yet.

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