The Minnesota Independent

Tarek Ibn Ziyad Academy - Latest Stories

Charter school accused of teaching Islam, ACLU reach settlement

By Andy Birkey | 10.04.11 | 7:27 am

The school, the Minnesota Department of Education and the ACLU reached a partial settlement in the case that requires charter schools to sign an annual statement declaring under penalty of law that the schools are not promoting religion.

Ellison fires back over Strib story on Mecca trip

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.23.09 | 3:10 pm

ellisonAfter yesterday’s Star Tribune piece on Rep. Keith Ellison’s pilgrimage to Mecca late last year, the 5th District Democrat is firing back, asking the paper for a correction in a letter to the editor today.…

ACLU suit against TIZA moves forward

By Andy Birkey | 07.22.09 | 7:52 am

tiza_schoolA court ruled Tuesday that the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-MN) can sue Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), Islamic Relief and state education commissioner Alice…

Did KSTP go too far in covering TIZA flap?

By Andy Birkey | 05.20.08 | 1:45 pm

tiza.jpgDrama ensued Monday morning as Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy officials attempted to take cameras away from a reporting crew from KSTP that showed up to cover a report from the Minnesota Department of Education…

Education Department findings on Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy contradict published reports

By Andy Birkey | 05.20.08 | 7:00 am

The Minnesota Department of Education released findings in the review of Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), the majority Muslim elementary school that became a target of conservative Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten. She claimed that TIZA…

Kersten column on Muslim school followed by threats, police patrols

By Andy Birkey | 04.16.08 | 11:21 am


Inver Grove Heights police are beefing up patrols at Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, a charter school with majority Muslim population, after school officials there received threats. Those threats came days after Star…