Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy Explained

Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy is an Islamic private day and weekend school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established in 1996.[1] It has a coeducational kindergarten through 12th grade.[2] It is affiliated with the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society and is located in a common building, 1501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19122.[3] Coursework includes Islamic studies, the Arabic language, and Quran classes.

In 2004, the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society building received murals and decorative tiling. In 2006, volunteers added more decorative work to the building.[4]

There was a December 2015 vandalism incident involving someone placing a pig's head on the property. Pig heads are especially offensive to Muslims.[5] The school has also been a part of interfaith efforts in Philadelphia, including a Muslim/Jewish interfaith basketball game — played on the Philadelphia 76ers home court at Wells Fargo Center— organized by an area teen as part of his Bar Mitzvah project.[6]

External links

39.9739°N -75.1413°W

Notes and References

  1. "About Al-Aqsa." Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy. Retrieved on September 26, 2016.
  2. "Home." Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy. Retrieved on September 26, 2016.
  3. Web site: Explore Al Aqsa Islamic Academy in Philadelphia, PA. GreatSchools.org. 21 December 2017.
  4. News: Salisbury, Stephan. Interfaith effort works to beautify Philadelphia mosque. https://web.archive.org/web/20160125234843/http://articles.philly.com/2016-01-11/news/69656572_1_islamic-state-mural-arts-program-west-philadelphia. dead. 2016-01-25. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 2016-01-11. 2016-09-26.
  5. News: Since Trump, more slurs, signs and discrimination in Philly. Philly.com. 2018-06-13.
  6. News: Merion teen hosts interfaith basketball game on Sixers' court. Philly.com. 2018-06-13.