Can we still show Muhammad in American universities? This is the question that agitates the United States, after Erika López Prater, an academic specializing in the history of art at Hamline University (Minnesota), was sidelined for having presented his students with a medieval painting depicting the prophet. The controversy dates back to October: the professor, as part of an online course, broadcasts one of the world’s first illustrated Islamic histories, “A Compendium of Chronicles”, written in the 14th century by Rashid-al-Din. One of the paintings then illustrates the angel Gabriel, ordering the prophet Muhammad to recite the words of God. Aware that some students may be embarrassed by this representation, Erika Lopez Prater warned them a few minutes earlier, authorizing those who wish to leave the class. The program of his course already specified that holy figures, such as the prophet or Buddha, would be shown.
But these precautions were apparently not enough. One of her students felt that the image was disrespectful, and complained to the administration. Other students, who were not present in this class, supported the move, considering it an attack on their religion. A month later, in November, the university condemns the choice of the teacher in an email intended for the students. The dean of Hamline calls the decision to study this image “undeniably inconsiderate, disrespectful and Islamophobic”. The president of the establishment, she co-signs an email according to which “respect for Muslim students should have taken precedence over academic freedom”. Erika Lopez Prater is dismissed in stride.
A controversial eviction
This decision has since been controversial. In the American press, several scholars of Islamic art disputed the idea that Erika López Prater’s intention was to disrespect the Prophet, unlike the caricatures of Charlie Hebdo for example. For its part, the Academic Freedom Alliance association demands in a letter sent to the university in January the immediate reinstatement of the teacher. “If an art history professor cannot show college students a vital work of art for fear that offended students or group may have him fired, then there is no guarantee of academic freedom in this institution and no commitment to higher education,” it read.
The chairman of Hamline University’s religion department tried to get a message of appeasement through the school’s student newspaper. In his open letter, he explains in particular that the objective of this work was to glorify Muhammad and not to denigrate or humiliate him. Unconvinced, student writers chose to have this text withdrawn, believing that it “aggravated the harm caused” to members of their community.
The main concerned, she felt that she had the impression of having received “a bucket of icy water on the head”, reports the New York Times. A petition on the Change.org site in support of the academic and demanding an investigation has collected more than 7,600 signatures since December 24.