WHEN West Side High School in Trenton, New Jersey, chose a church in which to hold a graduation ceremony, they had no idea what a can of worms their decision would open.
The school’s choice of venue – the New Hope Baptist Church – turned out to be “offensive” to Muslim student Bilal Shareef, who claimed he was forced to skip his 2006 graduation because his religious beliefs prohibited him from entering buildings containing icons of God.
Said Shareef, who together with his father, brought a religious discrimination lawsuit against Newark school district authorities:
I was forced to choose between honouring my education and my faith, and no one should be put in that position.
According to an NJ.Com report yesterday, the lawsuit was settled when Shareef, now a college student, received an apology from the school district, and given assurances that it would not hold future events in houses of worship.
Said the wounded Shareef:
I’m proud I stood up for my beliefs and I’m proud that my experience will keep other students from having to face the choices I did.
The lawsuit was filed on his behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Marion Bolden said in a statement that the location of prior ceremonies was “not in any way intended” to make students or parents uncomfortable.
Said Ed Barocas, the ACLU lawyer who represented Shareef:
We’re very pleased. These are important policy changes to ensure that no student is made to feel like an outsider as Bilal was.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
