A Michigan high school wrestling coach is outraged after being dismissed from his post of 35 years for allegedly allowing his former assistant — a local clergyman — to try converting Muslim students to Christianity.
The coach, Jerry Marszalek, allowed the Rev. Trey Hancock to discuss religion with members of the team at the Dearborn public high school, which has a predominantly Muslim student body, the Detroit News reported Wednesday.
Hancock admitted to discussing Christianity with Muslim youths, telling the paper, “I consider it my work to pastor to anyone who is within my reach.” But Hancock also insisted that he never spoke about religion on school grounds or as part of his work with the wrestling team.
Marszalek criticized the decision, saying he never witnessed Hancock discussing religion with students and telling the paper, "The principal has never, ever attended a practice or a wrestling meet, but he makes judgments on the team according to which Arabic parent complains about another parent, who is a Christian minister, and I get lumped in."
A crowd of 200-300 parents packed a Board of Education meeting Tuesday to support principal Imad Fadlallah, who is credited with turning the once troubled school around, the Detroit News reported.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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