University teacher fired for showing old Persian painting of Mohammad

Hamline University in Minnesota has fired a teacher for showing, in a class on the history of Islam, an old Persian painting of Mohammad. It was made by Muslims as a religious object.

The article reports that in Persia, and in Persian-influenced Turkey and India, there is an old Muslim tradition of paintings of human beings including Mohammad.

Catering to the most conservative Muslim views, which are those spread by Salafi Arabia since 2001, has become the requirement exacted by the most fanatical devotees of tiptoe culture. The university president actually asserted that this demand overrides academic freedom.

A teacher must not insult students — to do so goes against the needs of the job. However, this must be interpreted using society's general concept of what it means to insult anyone. Students are not entitled to demand that a teacher, when dealing with them, avoid doing whatever they may call "insult".

The university owes the teacher who was fired an apology, restoration of duties, pay for the period of work that perse lost, and some punitive damages. And above all it must recognize that students cannot eliminate academic freedom but shouting, "Offensive! That harms us!"