In a stunning move that has sparked widespread outrage, Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, announced that it would reschedule its 2025 graduation ceremony to accommodate the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. This decision, driven by pressure from the Muslim American Society (MAS) of Minnesota, a group with direct ties to Islamic terror organizations, showcases the increasing Islamization of American institutions. Instead of standing firm and defending long-held American traditions, Superintendent Josh Swanson quickly caved to MAS’s demands, moving the ceremony from June 7 to June 4.
This fight was led by Imam Asad Zaman, the Executive Director of the Minnesota chapter and co-founder of MAS; the group has long been working to reshape public institutions to align with Islamic doctrine. Zaman, a man with a well-documented history of antisemitic rhetoric, terrorist sympathies, radical activism, and deep ties to the Democratic Party, seized this opportunity. He used it to pressure a public school into adhering to Islamic demands, interests, and holidays. This pressure campaign is not about inclusion—it is about forced compliance with Islamic supremacy and about the replacement of all cultures with Islam by increments and by stealth. The question remains: where does this end?
The True Nature of Eid al-Adha
The controversial holiday at the center of this outrage is Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, an Islamic holiday that commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Islam’s rebranding of the Jewish and Christian Abraham) to slaughter his son as an act of submission to Allah. The holiday is marked by the ritual slaughter of fully conscious animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and even camels.
This slaughter follows Islamic halal guidelines, which require that the animal be killed in a specific manner: its throat must be slit while it is still fully conscious, with its blood drained slowly as prayers to Allah are recited over its dying body. Unlike humane Western slaughter practices, which stun the animal first to prevent suffering, halal mandates that the animal remains awake, terrified, and struggling as it bleeds out.
The justification? According to Islamic doctrine, pre-stunning the animal makes the meat “impure,” and the fear and pain-induced release of hormones supposedly enhances the flavor. The longer the animal writhes in agony, the better the meat is believed to taste. This gruesome and outdated practice has been widely condemned by animal welfare organizations worldwide, yet it continues under the guise of “religious freedom.”
But Eid al-Adha is not just a religious holiday—it is an assertion of Islamic dominance. This is why Muslim activists are demanding Western public institutions recognize it while simultaneously rejecting Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter. The goal is not “inclusion”—it is forced compliance.
Take Hamtramck, Michigan, where an all-Muslim city council voted in 2023 to allow Islamic animal slaughter in private homes and backyards. Residents will now hear the screams of terrified animals being butchered in their neighbors’ yards, just as it happens in places like Pakistan and the Middle East.
The push for halal slaughter is not just about meat—it is a multi-billion-dollar jihad industry that funds Islamic institutions, many of which are linked to terror groups like Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. The halal certification racket forces Western businesses to pay Islamic organizations to approve their food, funneling money into Sharia-compliant economies while imposing Islamic law on non-Muslim societies.
Despite halal being banned in parts of Europe due to its cruelty, Islamic activists in the U.S. continue their relentless pressure campaigns—ensuring that not only is Eid al-Adha recognized in American schools like Eden Prairie High, but that its barbaric practices gain footholds in Western institutions.
The Pressure Campaign That Forced the School to Submit
Fadumo Hassan, an Eden Prairie parent and former district employee, played a key role in leading the charge against the original graduation date. Hassan initiated an online petition circulated throughout the Islamic community, accusing the school district of religious discrimination for scheduling graduation on Eid al-Adha. The petition, dripping with entitlement, demanded that the school board shift the date to accommodate Muslim students,
“The fact that we live in Eden Prairie with such diversity and yet graduation day was chosen on a major religious holiday by administration is inconsiderate, even to the level of religious discrimination,” Hassan’s petition claimed.
The demand is absurd, considering Islamic leaders in the West actively instruct their followers to avoid engaging in non-Islamic holidays such as Christmas or Halloween. Yet, the same activists demand that public institutions alter their traditions to conform to Islamic customs.
This double standard is part of a larger strategy that has played out across Western nations—demanding special accommodations for Islam while simultaneously rejecting any integration with the host culture. The Eden Prairie controversy is not happening in isolation; it fits into the broader push for incremental Islamic supremacy in Western institutions.
Coordinated Political and Community Pressure
The campaign against the school escalated quickly, with politicians, activists, and Islamic organizations applying immense pressure:
- Left-wing State Representatives Alex Falconer and Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (DFL-Eden Prairie) openly advocated for the date change, demonstrating government involvement in enforcing Islamic preferences.
- Activists organized protests at school board meetings, packing the room with over 35 agitators who demanded immediate action.
- Sheikh Abdirahman from Masjid-e-Irshad publicly opposed the school’s claim that Muslim leaders approved the date.
- Outrage and legal threats intensified as activists insisted the school announce the date was not final, putting the district on the defensive.
The speed and coordination of this campaign suggest that it was not merely about scheduling conflicts but a well-orchestrated effort to assert Islamic dominance over public policy decisions. The involvement of state representatives in a purely religious demand further underscores the extent of political submission to Islamic lobbying.
Islamic Pressure Tactics
Imam Asad Zaman employed a well-known strategy often used to push Islamic accommodations: strongly implying potential legal consequences without explicitly stating them. In a letter to Eden Prairie Principal Anderson, Zaman framed the graduation date as creating “an atmosphere of exclusion” and suggested it “may violate” Minnesota’s anti-discrimination laws.
Zaman emphasized the “deep emotional and spiritual importance” of Eid al-Adha and stated that scheduling graduation on that day could be interpreted as “unequal treatment,” given the number of Muslim families in the district. While he did not explicitly threaten legal action, the implication was clear—if the school did not comply, it could face accusations of discrimination and possible legal challenges.
He urged Anderson to reconsider the date to “avoid further disadvantaging Muslim students” and promote “inclusion and respect”—a familiar framing tactic used to pressure institutions into adopting Islamic preferences. Though couched in the language of equity, this approach placed the district in a defensive position, nudging them toward compliance to avoid controversy.
Who is Imam Asad Zaman? A Subversive Muslim with Political Clout
Zaman is not just an imam; he is a well-connected political activist with deep ties to radical Islamic networks and a long history of using institutional pressure to reshape American policies to align with Islamic interests. He has spent decades ingratiating himself with Minnesota’s political elite, pressuring schools, and using legal and political levers to impose Islamic preferences on public institutions.
A Known Antisemite and Terror Apologist
- In 2015, Zaman shared neo-Nazi propaganda glorifying Adolf Hitler.
- In 2016, Zaman reposted a Hamas press release mourning the death of Motiur Rahman Nizami, a Bangladeshi political leader affiliated with Jamaat e-Islami, a terrorist entity aligning itself with extremist elements in al Qaeda, the Taliban, and other violent factions. Nizami himself was convicted of rape, murder, and leading an armed group that perpetrated torture and extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh’s 1971 war for independence.
- On October 7, 2024, after Hamas launched its barbaric Islmaic terror attack on Israel—slaughtering civilians, raping women, and kidnapping families—Zaman blamed Israel and justified Palestinian terrorism.
Ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas
MAS, the organization Asad Zaman leads in Minnesota and personally founded there, was established as the U.S. branch of the Muslim Brotherhood—a movement whose stated goal is to impose Sharia (Islamic law) worldwide and ultimately replace Western legal systems with Islamic governance.
- The United Arab Emirates officially designated MAS a terrorist organization in 2014, citing its direct ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and extremist activities.
- MAS leaders were listed in an FBI-recovered phonebook of Muslim Brotherhood operatives in the U.S., exposed during the Holy Land Foundation terror-financing trial.
- Hamas—an armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood—has been financially and ideologically linked to MAS, with multiple MAS figures caught fundraising for Hamas-backed initiatives.
- MAS was founded in 1992 explicitly to promote “Islam as a total way of life,” reinforcing its mission to reshape American society under Islamic rule.
- MAS has repeatedly blamed U.S. foreign policy for the 9/11 attacks, echoing rhetoric used by terrorist groups to justify violence against America.
- MAS has actively worked to undermine U.S. counterterrorism efforts:
- In 2011, MAS co-signed a letter pressuring the Obama administration to remove all FBI and DHS counterterrorism training materials referencing the Muslim Brotherhood, jihad, and Islamic extremism—a demand that was immediately granted.
- The letter also demanded a “mandatory retraining program” for FBI agents and law enforcement officers, ensuring they would no longer be educated on Islamic networks operating in the U.S.
- As a result, FBI, DHS, and military counterterrorism training materials were scrubbed of key intelligence about Islamic radicalism, weakening national security.
MAS’s Ties to Convicted Terrorists and Radical Front Groups
- Randall Royer, former MAS communications director, was convicted of multiple terrorism-related charges after he was caught training with Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistani jihadist group responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- MAS-affiliated political activist Mahdi Bray openly supported convicted terrorists and worked with International ANSWER—a Communist front group that collaborated with Islamist extremists to promote anti-American propaganda.
- MAS-affiliated mosques have hosted radical speakers, including those who have openly called for the implementation of Sharia in America and praised jihadist movements.
Minnesota MAS’s Openly Antisemitic and Pro-Jihad Teachings
The Minnesota chapter of MAS featured the following anti-Semitic, pro-jihad quotes on its website, www.masmn.org:
- “The Holy Prophet (and through him the Muslims) has been reassured that he should not mind the enmity, the evil designs and the machinations of the Jews …”
- “In view of the degenerate moral condition of the Jews and the Christians, the Believers have been warned not to make them their friends and confidants.”
- “If you gain victory over the men of Jews, kill them.”
- “The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say, ‘O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him.’”
- “May Allah destroy the Jews, because they used the graves of their prophets as places of worship.”
- “A Muslim must always worship Allah and wage jihad until death in order to reach his ultimate goal … Regularly make the intention to go on jihad with the ambition to die as a martyr.”
These Islamic views expose MAS Minnesota’s core ideology—rooted in jihad, Islamic supremacism, and open hostility toward Jews and the West.
Minnesota MAS‘s TiZA Scandal
Under Asad Zaman’s leadership, MAS Minnesota played a central role in the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TiZA), a taxpayer-funded charter school accused of violating the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause by promoting Islam with public funds.
Zaman was not just involved with TiZA—he was one of its founders and served as its executive director and principal.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued TiZA, alleging that the school functioned as a religious institution while receiving taxpayer money. The lawsuit detailed how TiZA held Islamic prayers during school hours, segregated genders in some activities, and integrated Islamic teachings into the curriculum—all while being publicly funded.
Additionally, MAS Minnesota, under Zaman’s leadership, financially benefited from TiZA through a highly questionable rental scheme. Nearly $900,000 in state education funds were paid as rent to a MAS-affiliated property-holding company, which then funneled the money back to MAS in the form of donations. This effectively diverted taxpayer dollars into a sectarian Islamic organization.
State regulators also found that TiZA employed unlicensed teachers and engaged in other violations, leading to funding cuts and regulatory actions. The school was highly secretive, requiring staff to sign non-disclosure agreements forbidding them from discussing internal operations, further suggesting it operated as an Islamic institution under the guise of a public charter school.
As a result of mounting legal and regulatory scrutiny, TiZA lost its authorizer and was forced to shut down in 2011.
Why Does the TiZA Scandal Matter?
Zaman’s involvement in TiZA was not an isolated incident—it reflects a broader pattern of embedding Islam into American institutions while exploiting taxpayer funding.
This scandal proves that Zaman was not simply an administrator—he was using a public school to spread Islamic teachings while MAS financially benefited from the scheme.
Minnesota’s government allowed this fraud to continue for years, exposing the deep influence MAS wields in state politics.
If Zaman was able to run an Islamic charter school with state money, what else has he successfully infiltrated?
This scandal is yet another proof point that Zaman is not a “faith leader” in the way Westerners would understand the term. Rather, he is an Islamic political activist who manipulates American institutions for ideological and financial gain. He is, however, an excellent example of an Islamic leader exploiting the rules and tolerance of Western institutions to bend them toward Islamic control.
Zaman’s Deep Political Influence in Minnesota
Despite his extremist rhetoric and terrorist affiliations, Zaman has ingratiated himself with Minnesota’s Democrat establishment, gaining influence over policies that impact education, law enforcement, and public accommodations.
- Governor Tim Walz referred to him as a “master teacher”, giving him political legitimacy.
- Attorney General Keith Ellison—a long-time Islamic sympathizer—traveled to Mecca with Zaman his very “close friend” in 2008, further highlighting their close ties.
- Senator Amy Klobuchar and multiple Minnesota state legislators have appeared at MAS events, treating Zaman as a respectable figure despite his extremist track record.
The “Muslim Day at the Capitol” – Political Power on Display
- In 2005, Zaman co-founded the Muslim Day at the Capitol, an event designed to showcase Muslim political power and exert influence over lawmakers.
- This event has since become a political tradition, with Minnesota Democrats regularly meeting with Islamic activists, promoting their policies, and giving Islamists like Zaman direct access to decision-makers.
Training Police in Islam?
- Zaman has personally trained over 200 police officers in Minnesota, raising serious concerns about why law enforcement is being taught Islam by a man with ties to extremist groups.
- What exactly is he teaching them? Why are Minnesota police departments allowing a radical political activist to shape their policies?
Zaman and the Saudi-Iranian Power Connection
Zaman’s ties to Islamist movements go beyond Minnesota and the U.S.—they extend into Saudi Arabian and Iranian political circles.
- In December 2008, Keith Ellison made his Haj pilgrimage to Mecca, first stopping in Medina before traveling to Mecca, where he met up with Asad Zaman and other Minnesota-based Islamic figures.
- After Mecca, Ellison was invited to a reception at the Saudi King’s residence, where he and Zaman mingled with 60-70 international political figures from Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, China, and Chad.
- An Iranian official was also present, raising serious concerns about what discussions were had, given Iran’s known state sponsorship of terrorism and hostility toward the West.
Why Was Zaman There?
- Why was Zaman, a supposed “local” Minnesota imam, connected to international Islamic power brokers at the highest levels?
- Why was he in the presence of the Saudi King and Iranian representatives—both power centers of radical Sunni and Shia Islamism?
This high-level networking raises an important question: Is Asad Zaman just a local imam, or is he an agent working to push Islamist policies through political and legal maneuvering in the United States?
Why Does This Radical Have a Say in Minnesota’s Public Schools?
The real question is: Why does Imam Asad Zaman, a man with open ties to terrorism, antisemitism, and radical Islam, have any influence over an American high school?
- Why did Eden Prairie school officials not immediately reject his demands?
- How has Islamist influence become so deeply embedded in Minnesota’s institutions?
No school district should be consulting, appeasing, or legitimizing a man who has supported Hitler, mourned terrorists, shared the stage with Iranian officials, and aligned himself with groups designated as threats to Western democracy.
The Dangerous Precedent Set by Eden Prairie
The decision to alter the graduation date is not an isolated event—it is another test case for future demands. With this victory secured, Islamic will continue to push for further accommodations, including:
- Halal-only school meals funded by taxpayers
- Prayer rooms and Sharia-compliant spaces in public schools
- Suppression of criticism against Islam under ‘hate speech’ laws
This pattern is already visible in Western Europe, where decades of unchecked Islamic demands have led to parallel legal systems, no-go zones, and the erosion of native cultures.
The Time to Push Back is Now
Minnesotans must take a stand against Islamic encroachment before it is too late. Eden Prairie’s school board must be held accountable for prioritizing Islamic interests over American traditions. Groups like MAS and CAIR must be exposed for their radical agendas, and legislators must enact policies that ensure religious neutrality in public institutions.
Defend America or Watch It Be Dismantled
This is no longer just about Eden Prairie—it’s about the survival of American values. Every concession to Islamic demands is another step toward the systematic dismantling of Western civilization. History shows that once these footholds are established, they do not retreat. The choice is stark: either rise up and push back or watch as our institutions are transformed beyond recognition. There is no compromise, no middle ground. The time to resist is now.
