缅因州一名公立学校管理人员因伊斯兰教关于狗的宗教信仰，对在教室允许饲养狗提出担忧，当时该学区正考虑因一名教师申请领养幼犬而修改教室宠物政策。
A Maine public school administrator raised concerns about allowing dogs in classrooms because of Islamic religious beliefs about the animals, as the district considers changes to its classroom pet policy following a teacher's request to foster puppies.
波特兰公立学校学生、家庭和社区伙伴关系助理学监阿卜杜拉希·艾哈迈德博士在10月14日的政策委员会会议上讨论了这些担忧，解释称一些伊斯兰传统认为狗的唾液不洁。据《国家新闻台》报道，艾哈迈德表示，他曾咨询当地穆斯林宗教领袖，他们反对在教室将狗作为宠物饲养。
Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, Portland Public Schools' assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships, discussed the concerns during an Oct. 14 policy committee meeting, explaining that some Islamic traditions consider dog saliva impure. Ahmed said he had consulted local Muslim religious leaders who opposed keeping dogs as classroom pets, according to a report by The National News Desk.
这场争论始于大洋大道小学一名教师申请在教室领养幼犬，让学生在阅读和游戏时间有机会与动物互动。艾哈迈德建议，相关安排可包括将狗安置在单独的房间，以尊重有宗教异议的学生和家庭。
The debate began after a teacher at Ocean Avenue Elementary School sought permission to foster puppies in her classroom, giving students an opportunity to interact with the animals during reading and playtime. Ahmed suggested that accommodations could include keeping dogs in a separate room to respect students and families with religious objections.
艾哈迈德表示，穆斯林社区成员并不反对动物，他说：“在伊斯兰传统中，始终有对动物和生物的热爱，以及对动物的怜悯。”他接着说，一些伊斯兰传统认为狗不洁。
Ahmed said that Muslim community members are not opposed to animals, saying, "in Islamic tradition, there is always the love for animals and living things and compassion for animals." He went on to say that some Islamic traditions consider dogs unclean.
艾哈迈德说：“话虽如此，在伊斯兰传统中存在一些仪式性的洁净观念……例如，狗的唾液被视为不洁。此外，一些人过去与狗有过负面经历。”
"So, with that being said, there are some ritual kind of a purity or in that Islamic traditions ... So, for example, the dog saliva is considered impure," Ahmed said. "And also some people had some experiences with dogs, which were negative actually in the past."
据其学区简介，出生并成长于索马里的艾哈迈德会说索马里语、阿拉伯语、英语和乌尔都语。他还表示，他交谈过的伊玛目们不希望在教室将狗作为宠物饲养。
NEW YORK TIMES ACCUSED OF FRAMING MUSLIMS AS TRUE VICTIMS OF 9/11 IN ANNIVERSARY COVERAGE Ahmed, who was born and raised in Somalia, speaks Somali, Arabic, English and Urdu, according to his district biography. He also said the imams he spoke with did not want dogs kept as pets in classrooms.
委员会成员讨论了任何修订后的政策是否应仅适用于狗，还是扩展到其他课堂动物，以及潜在的选择加入和选择退出安排。委员会在10月14日的会议上未对政策变更进行表决。
Committee members discussed whether any revised policy should apply only to dogs or extend to other classroom animals, along with potential opt-in and opt-out accommodations. The committee did not vote on policy changes during the Oct. 14 meeting.
“为自由而战的妈妈们”联合创始人蒂娜·德斯科维奇在给福克斯新闻数字频道的声明中说：“自建国以来，狗一直在丰富全美学童的生活。”她称对课堂里有狗的反对意见“很愚蠢”。 德克萨斯州教育委员会批准有争议的课程变更 将“激进伊斯兰教”与“9·11”袭击事件挂钩 福克斯新闻数字频道联系了艾哈迈德和波特兰公立学校学监瑞安·斯卡隆置评，但未立即收到回复。
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich said, "Dogs have been enriching the lives of school children across America since its founding." She called objections to dogs in the classroom "silly." TEXAS EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL CURRICULUM CHANGES TYING 'RADICAL ISLAM' TO 9/11 ATTACKS Fox News Digital reached out to Ahmed and Ryan Scallon, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
