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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > CAIR edu coordinator/prof at UCF uses diversity program to propagate Islam - pushed non Muslims to intern at Muslim Academy

CAIR edu coordinator/prof at UCF uses diversity program to propagate Islam - pushed non Muslims to intern at Muslim Academy

March 12, 2006

MIM: Yasmeen Qadri is the CAIR educational affairs coordinator and former principal of the MACF (Muslim Academy of Central Florida. She is currently the head of the educational affairs department of Valencia College and ran the educational department and diversity course at the University of Central Florida. Qadri insidiously used her professorial position for Da'wa (Islamic proselytising) under the guise of a Diversity studies course, and coerced non Muslim UCF students to do their teaching internships at the MACF. It is worth noting that the Diversity studies course featured an entire page about Muslims and the Muslim Academy.

In addition her diversity agenda was propagating Islam. According to two student entries on "Rate My Professor" Qadri "is very focussed on teaching about the Muslim religion- not diverse populations". Another student testified that "she tried to force me to do my observations at the Muslim Academy". Such blatant proselytising is the methadology of CAIR and shows how radical Islam is using the tactic of Jihad through Da'wa (Islamic propagation) at the University of Central Florida.

MIM: At an educational conference in 2005 Qadri , CAIR educational director ,together with Ahmed Bedier the communications director to,used the ploy of diversity to push for the Islamisation of public schools and cynically cited the First Amendment 'freedom of religion; to push their demands for having Muslim religious practices accomodate, an agenda which is antithetical to diversity.

http://ascd2005conference.blogspot.com/

Encouraging Sensitivity to Differing Religious Expressions

As more Muslim children become visible in U.S. public schools, the need to enhance religious tolerance and accommodate differing religious expression has become increasingly essential in the school setting. Strategies to accomplish these goals were addressed in Saturday's session "Muslims Are Americans, Too: Embracing Global Education in the 21st Century."

"This kind of dialogue is helpful for students because it helps build bridges across the different customs," Qadri said. Ahmed Bedier, communications director for the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Tampa, Fla., discussed the First Amendment and the Equal Access Act of 1984 that protect religious expression in institutions that receive federal funding, such as school districts.

"In making decisions as educators, you cannot discriminate against students' practice of religion or fail to accommodate their religious expression needs," Bedier said.

The First Amendment protects, such as prayer, fasting, religious observance, special clothing or special dietary needs. The Equal Access Act affirms the right for student-initiated religious activities in public schools.

Common excuses for failing to accommodate students' special religious needs, Bedier said, include, "if we accommodate you, we have to accommodate everyone" or "our policy forbids it" or "other students have never requested such a thing." "It's a right for our children to observe our holidays just as other children have the right to observe Christmas," he noted.

"Also, policies are made to be amended according to circumstance, and just because one student doesn't recognize a religious observance, that's their business, but if another student does, that's their right."

Yasmeen Qadri, professor of education at Valencia Community College, encourages students to embrace commonality.

http://ascd2005conference.blogspot.com/2005/04/encouraging-sensitivity-to-differing.html

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MIM: Students who took Qadri's course complained that she was engaged in Da'wa not diversity and tried to force them to do their internship (and be exposed to Islam), at her former school 'Muslim Academy of Central Florida'.

Note: Dr. Yasmeen Qadri is an Adjunct Professor in the College of Education at University of Central Florida.

http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=183001

Dr. Qadri is nice, but very focused on teaching about the Muslim religion, not DIVERSE populations. Class is sorta boring, but tests are hard and detail specific. Unless you want to learn everything about Muslims and nothing about anyone else, drop this class and take someone else!
Registered users, respond to this rating
2.		11/12/04	EDG 2701	4	2	1	5	she is so into her religion that she thinks you should be too...she tried to force me into doing one of my observations at the muslim academy...i really did not enjoy her class at all. i wish i had dropped and taken it w/ another teacher.

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http://www.meccacentric.com/198.html

MIM: Qadri is featured on the Islamist Meccacentric website giving her views on how education is the only way to "prepare future generations of Muslims" (a side reference to Da'wa) and claims that "It's time for Muslims to take action".

DOC] In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

Minutes for Saturday April 16, 2005
Live Meeting: Gainesville, FL

Attendance:

University Representative

Gulf Coast Community College Mohammed Mubarak

Hadi Hamwi

University of Central Florida Summiya Quadri

Valencia Community College Kamran Quadri

University of Florida Marwan Sheik

Ameena Khan

University of South Florida Naveed Kamal

Aadil Modi

Chairperson Iman Zawahry

Secretary Nur Zeinomar

Advisor Dr. Yasmeen Qadri

Minutes:

1. Introduction

Chairperson Iman Zawahry welcomed everyone to the meeting and restated the goals of the FL council, which are to establish bonds between the Muslim Student Associations across the state, and to create a platform through which Muslim brothers and sisters can become more familiar and learn from one another.

Each representative introduced their school and the number of people, active and inactive, in their respective MSA's:

University of Florida: 40 active, 500 total members

University of Central Florida: 20 active, 75 total members

Valencia Community College: 10 active, 30 total

University of South Florida: 40 active, 200 total

Gulf Coast Community College: 15 active, 23 total

Zawahry then gave a short summary of the year. Besides many conference calls, the Amir Suleiman tour of GCCC, FSU, UF, and USF was a highly successful event and the poet really enjoyed it and would love to repeat it. Also included in this year were the MSA East Zone conference and the upcoming retreat.

2. East Zone/MSA National

A. Affiliation with MSA national

Zawahry stressed the importance of affiliation with MSA national. She mentioned upcoming elections, and each school can only vote if they have been affiliated for at least a year. East Zone representative Ahmed Sidky, running for vice president of MSA national, helped establish the www.muslimstudents.info website which facilitated the affiliation of over a 100 schools in just a month.

B. Update on East Zone Conference:

Alhamdullah, FSU won the website challenge at the East Zone conference, which really helped represent Florida.

Around 1200 registered for the conference which was very well organized and consisted of many informative and new sessions. It was also the largest and most expensive conference hosted by MSA national. Some of the speakers were: Br. Nouman Ali Khan, Imam Abdul Malik, Sheikh Abdullah Adhami, Imam Zaid Shakir, and Sheikh Husain Abdul Sattar.

3. "Reflections" Retreat/ Formal Banquet

1. Retreat.

Iman stressed the importance of advertising for the retreat at each school and handed out fliers to pass out. Only 100 spots are available.

The speaker for the retreat is still in the process of being confirmed. Nauman Ali Khan is being contacted. Kamal El-Mekki and Hisham Mahmoud are also possibilities.

The price of the retreat will cost around 8,500 dollars, and since the fundraising goal of 500 dollars for each school was not met, the council agreed to raise the registration fee from 50 to 55 dollars for early registration and 60 dollars for late registration.

The tentative schedule and the workshop topics were then decided upon. The topic suggestions included:

• How the prophet (PBUH) was a companion to the companions.
• The prophet's relationship and companionship with his daughters.
• How to correctly resolve conflicts, with examples from the seerah.
• Purifying intentions and trusting in Allah in order to strive for this deen. An example of this would be the battle of Uhud.
• Outreach and networking: How the prophet (PBUH) was the ultimate example of this
• Also a CAIR workshop on how CAIR can be mobilized on campus, utilizing the FL council to bridge the gap.

Topics were also suggested for the 45 min debate between the brothers and sisters:

• Aminah Wadud
• Guidelines of social interactions between the genders in a campus setting.
• Marriage at a young age.
• Voting

The Icebreaker was also decided on:

Islamic Jeopardy, Twinkie towers.

Entertainment activity will be voted on when registering on the website. Ideas are:

• Talent show,
• Who's line is it anyway
• Skit about dealing with funny situations

The Council also agreed to have a Quran Competition on Saturday morning after Fajr between the schools. The winner will be announced at the banquet.

2. Banquet

The first formal banquet will also take place at the retreat. The council decided on the awards to give out:

• Most Valuable MSA
• Most Improved MSA
• Most represented MSA in the council
• Quran Competition Award
• Most Valuable Council Member

4. MSA Annual Summary:

UCF: - Fast-at-thon,

• Tri-log: 3 different groups cosponsored and had an interfaith (Jewish, Muslim, Christian) dialog.
• Jumah Prayers
• Islam Awareness Week: Paul Findley main speaker

Valencia: - Muslims around the World Fair

• Interfaith dialog: amnesty international co-sponsored
• Tsunami Relief and Fundraising , raised 2000 dollars

- Giving Tree, students bought 1 apple for 1 dollar, raised 400 dollars

- Canned food drive

GCCC: - Amir Suleiman

• Faculty Luncheon
• Tsunami Dinner, collected 15,000 dollars and donated it to LIFE
• Relay of life

USF: - Islam 101 class every Thursday, 5 regular non-Muslim attendees

• Debate with Baptist Collegiate Council, presentation of both sides
• Mock hajj, with pizza and wings for EID
• Fast-a-thon, with around 300 people
• Amir Suleiman
• Relay of Life
• Dinner at the Hope Lodge
• Cosponsored MAS picnic, dinner, workshop
• Workshop for the local Islamic school, with academic advising from MSA members to high school college students
• Multicultural club, holiday celebration
• Cosponsored with CAIR to bring Jamal Badawi

UF: - Welcome dinner for new students, CAIR speaker

• Rock-climbing for sisters, paintball for brothers as icebreaker for new students during welcome week
• Ramadan Awareness Week:
  • Fast-a-thon
  • Amir Suleiman
  • Presentation of Fasting in the world religions by Imam Marwat
• Presentation/lecture about situation in Darfur, Sudan
• Islam Awareness Month:
  • Amir Suleiman again
  • Jeffery Lang
  • Paul Findley
  • Yusuf Estess
  • Interfaith Dialogue, which ended up being a presentation on Islam since the speakers both cancelled.
  • St. Augustine Church Multicultural Dinner
  • Showing of the Legacy of Prophet Muhammad Film
  • Hadia Mubarak
  • CAIR workshop with Ahmed Bedier for the media on how to deal with Muslims and for the Muslim students on dawaah
  • Islam Fair
• End of the year Banquet with Br. Tarek El-gawhary, former MSA national president as speaker and a performance by Br. Idlibi

5. Elections

The annual elections for the council board, year 2005-2006 took place. The results are:

Chair: Naveed Kamal (University of South Florida-Tampa)

Secretary- Summaiya Qadri (University of Central Florida- Orlando)

Iman then reminded everyone to buy their T-shirts, made the closing dua and the meeting was adjourned.

----------------

Members of the Mayor's Education Action Council

http://www.cityoforlando.net/executive/children/councilmembers.htm

Members
Marion Cannon, Classroom Teachers Association
Wolfgang Halbig, National Institute for School & Workplace Safety
Beatrice Harris, Retired Teacher
Carlota Mendoza-Iglesias, Stonewall Jackson Middle School Principal
Sgt. Eric Pedersen, Orlando Police Department
Dr. Yasmeen Qadri, Valencia Community College
Nancy Robbinson, Lake Silver School Advisory Committee/Parent Teachers Association
Danella Schuler, Blankner K-8 School Advisory Committee/Parent Teachers Association
Mary Louise Wells, Jones HS, 2001 Orange County Public Schools Teacher of the Year
Laura Wharton, Cypress Springs Elementary Teacher
Dr. Bob Williams, UCF College of Education, Department of Teaching and Learning

-----------

http://faculty.valenciacc.edu/yqadri/resume.htm

Yasmeen Qadri, Ed.D.


EDUCATION

University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 1994

 Doctorate in Education: 

 - Area of Emphasis: Educational Leadership; Multiculturalism;

 Curriculum & Instruction

 - Dissertation topic: Cross-Cultural Experiential Learning

 Practices for Training Teachers in Multicultural Education.

University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 1991

 Master of Arts: Social Science

Osmania University Hyderabad, India 1978

 Master of Arts--Psychology

St. Francis College Hyderabad, India 1976

 Bachelor of Arts--Literature, Political Science, Child Psychology

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Professor in Education, Valencia Community College 2002-Present

Adjunct Professor, University of Central Florida, 1995-Present

 * Area of Instruction: Multicultural Education; foundation

 in Education, Teaching Diverse Population, ESOL

Local Colleges, Universities, Public, and Private Schools 1994-Present

 Partnerships, Teacher Preparation, Mentoring, Workshops, & Seminars

National Council for Community and Justice Orlando, FL 1991-Present

 Youth Facilitator: Building Better Communities

Muslim Academy of Central Florida Orlando, FL 1991-2002

 Principal (Pre-K to High School)

 * Opened a full-time multicultural school

 * Established policies

 * Developed student and teacher handbooks

 * Provided in-service teachers training with emphasis on Gender and

 Cultrual Diversity

 * Curriculum development

 * Extensive experience designing, developing, implementing, monitoring

 and evaluating Educational Programs with a focus on research and

 Application of Research on Women Issues; cross-cultural experiential

 learning practices; leadership roles of Muslim women in the west;

 and Gender Discrimination

 * Hiring of staff

 * Organized fund-raising events, seminars, and staff development

 workshops

Indian Embassy School Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1984-1987

 Teacher, Elementary/ESOL

Minaret-e-Jeddah Saudi School Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1983-1984

 Teacher, Elementary/ESOL

N.Y. Institute of Child Development, Inc. Manhattan, NY 1981

 Counselor

Jewish Center for Family and Children Services New York, NY 1980

 Counselor

TEACHING ASSIGNMENT

University of Central Florida / Valencia Community College

 * Teaching Strategies I

 * Analysis of Educational Foundations

 * Introduction to Education

 * Teaching Diverse Populations

 * Multicultural Education

 * History of American Education

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Florida Law Related Education 

 * Islam & Democracy at Democracy Camp Tallahassee, FL 2003

American Association of Educational Research (AAER) 

 * Muslim-American Student: An Endangered Species Florida 2003 

National Interfaith Conference 

 * Delegation to Washington 2003

Women Retreat - Presbetarian Church 

 *Prayers in the Middle of the Muddle 2003 

Islamic Society of North America 

 * Keeping the Peace in the Board: Challenges of Islamic Shools 2003 

Education Forum Chicago, IL 2002

 * Leadership in the 21st Century: Challenges

 for Islamic School Principals

Kappa Delta Pi Orlando, FL 2001

 * To teach is to Touch Your Own Future:

 How to be an Effective Teacher (co-presenter)

Staff Development Houston, TX 2000

 * Teacher as a Role Model

Elementary Education Orlando, FL 1999

 * Cross-Cultural Experiential Teaching and

 Learning -- Key to Multicultural Education

Islamic Society of North America Chicago, IL 1999

 * Islamization of Behavior

American Association for Teaching and Curriculum Orlando, FL 1999

 * Celebrating Diversity: Leading the Way into

 the New Millennium

Islamic Medical Association (International) Hyderabad, India 1999

 * Our Children-Our Future: An Awakening Call

 in the New Millennium

American Association for teaching and Curriculum Orlando, FL 1998

 * Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century: Cross

 Cultural Experiential Learning Practices for

 Training Teachers in Multicultural Education.

National University of Ireland Kildare, Ireland 1997

 * Faith: The Key to Successful Education (co-presenter)

Islamic Medical Association Orlando, FL 1997

 * Marriage: Is it an End to Education?

United Muslim Conference Orlando, FL 1996

 * Split Personality Syndrome in Muslim Youth:

 Is it a Myth of Reality?

University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 1996

 * Unity in Diversity: Teachers Can Make a Difference

Miami Symposium of Private Schools Miami, FL 1995

 * The Principalship: Building a Learning Community

University Behavioral Center Orlando, FL 1996

 * Study Skills Workshop for Youth

Assoc. of Supervision & Curriculum Dev. San Francisco, CA 1995

 * Multicultural Education: Preparing Teachers

 for the 21st Century

Assoc. of Supervision & Curriculum Dev. Los Angeles, CA 1994

 * Cross Cultural Experiential Learning Practices for Training

 Teachers in Mulicultural Education

Assoc. of Supervision & Curriculum Dev. Baltimore, MD 1994

 * Intercultural Experiential Learning of Anglo-American

 Teachers in a Muslim Academy

Guest Lecturer

 Public and Private schools, Colleges, Universitites, and Businesses

 * Mentoring in Islamic Schools,

 Retention of Principals & Teachers

 * Cross-Cultural Training

 * Multiculturalism

 * Character Education

 * Teachers Training

 * Parenting Youth - Our Future Leaders

 * Building effective Boards

FEATURED / RECOGNITION

 * Featured on 580 WDBO and 1440 WPRD

 * Featured on WESH and WFTV, loval affiliates of NBC and ABC News

 * Featured in Central Florida Family Magazine

 * Featured in the Orlando Sentinel

 * Kappa Delta Pi INternational Honor Society

 * Who's Who in American Education

 * International Biographical Center: One Thousand Great Americans

 * Mayor's Education Task Force

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP

 * American Muslim Alliance

 * Catholic Social Services, Inc.

 * Community Resource Volunteer

 * National Council for Community and Justice (NCCJ)

 * UCF Student Alumni Association Mentor Program

 * Women's Multi-Faith Center in the South

 * Muslim Women's Association

 * National Educators Forum

 * Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)

 * American Association for Teaching and Curriculum (AATC)

 * Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS)

 * Central Florida Association of non-Public Schools (CFANS)

 * Council on American-Islamic Relations - FL Chapter (CAIR-FL)

 * Advisor, Muslim Students Association - Valencia Community College

REFERENCES

 Dr. Karen Biraimah, Chair, Educational Studies, Department of Education,

 University of Central Florida. Tel: (407) 823-2427

 Mrs. Nirsa Gautier, Lawton Chiles Elementary School, Teacher of the Year

 11001 Bloomfield Drive, Orlando, FL 32825

 Telephone (407) 737-1470

 Dr. Marcella Kysilka, Chair, Doctoral Studies, University of Central Florida, orlando, FL.32816

 Phone: (407) 823-2011

 Dr. Phyllis Olmstead, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue,

 Fort Lauderdale, FLorida 33314. Telephone 1-800-986-3223, Ext. 4094. Fax (954) 423-1224

 Dr. Zena Sulkes, Director, The Hebrew Day School of Central Florida, 851 N. Maitland

 Avenue Maitland, FL. 32751. Tel: (407) 647-0713 Fax: (407) 647-1223

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