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Teacher rips Muslim students for skipping out on Gay Pride activities

A female teacher in Alberta, Canada recently was recorded blasting Muslim students in her class for skipping school during Pride-themed events — telling them that if they continued, they “can’t be Canadian” and “don’t belong” in the country.

The unnamed teacher from Londonderry School attempted to guilt-trip the students by noting their classmates showed up for them during Ramadan: “They’re showing respect to the class — for your religion.”

“It goes two ways,” the teacher continued. “If you want to be respected for who you are, if you don’t want to suffer prejudice for your religion, your color of skin or whatever, then you better give it back to people who are different from you. That’s how it works. It’s an exchange.”

The teacher noted that other countries execute homosexuals, and that if anyone in the class shared that belief they should leave the country.

“That’s not what Canada believes,” she said. “We believe in freedom. We believe that people can marry whomever they want. That is in the law — and if you don’t think that should be the law, then you can’t be Canadian.”

“You don’t belong here and I mean it! I really mean it.” the teacher concluded.

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Local Muslims said the teacher’s comments were “alienating,” the Edmonton Journal reports.

“[The teacher] seems to have the opinion that it is somehow un-Canadian to have a difference of opinion. I think this is exactly the opposite of what diversity and inclusiveness mean,” said Jamal Osman, vice-president of the Muslim Community of Edmonton Mosque. “Diversity and inclusion does not mean you will think one way. That’s counterintuitive.”

The National Council of Canadian Muslims added that it was “deeply concerned” about the teacher’s “deeply Islamophobic, inappropriate and harassing behaviour.”

Londonderry Principal Ed Charpentier said the teacher’s remarks were “not representative of the school’s values.”

“We know that words matter and they have the ability to bring us together and also to divide us,” Charpentier said. “I want to assure you we are addressing the situation accordingly.”

MORE: Duke students organize ‘Queeristan’ event series to support LGBT Muslims

IMAGE: Jelena Aloskina/Shutterstock.com

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