Parents Upset After Minnesota Students Sing ‘Allahu Akbar’ at Holiday Concert

Nearly a dozen people in the Anoka-Hennepin School District have sent in complaints about a choir teacher’s decision to use a song about Ramadan performed at the school's holiday concert.

The concert took place Thursday at Blaine High School and featured a song with Arabic words, including the phrase “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is great.” Christian and Jewish songs were performed as well, but no one seemed to have a problem with that.

The district released a statement saying that they have students from many different backgrounds and cultures. “Songs are not performed in a worship setting or to promote religion,” the district’s statement said. “but rather in an educational setting where students are learning and performing music.”