Believe In America.com

butterbean · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 2269

8/29/06
Muslim athletes accuse NMSU of religious discrimination

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Three former New Mexico State University football players -- all Muslims -- sued the university and coach Hal Mumme on Monday, saying they were dismissed from the team because of their religious beliefs.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Mu'Ammar Ali and brothers Anthony and Vincent Thompson.

"Universities are supposed to be places of evolved thinking and reason, not of base intolerance and bigotry" said Peter Simonson, executive director of ACLU New Mexico. "In this case, the university failed its purpose, and a coach indulged in those prejudices to assert his own religious preferences over the players and the team."

The lawsuit alleges Mumme, who was hired by NMSU in January 2005, instituted a "religious brotherhood" within the football team and singled out Muslim athletes. It claims Mumme had players recite the Lord's Prayer after each practice and before each game. Ali and the Thompsons said that practice made them feel like outcasts and caused them to pray separately from the other players.

Simonson said all three have transferred to Portland State.

"I really don't know what the allegations are," said Bruce Kite, the school's general counsel, who added he had not seen the lawsuit. "To say anything at this point and time would not be appropriate."

The NMSU board of regents and William V. Flores, the school's vice president and provost, also were named in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, not long after Mumme learned Ali and the Thompsons were Muslim, he prohibited the Thompsons from attending the team's spring 2005 training camp and questioned Ali about his attitudes toward al-Qaida.

http://elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_4253140

Here we go again. I guess the AMERICAN/CLU will be taking up their cause. Confused