Erika Lopez Prater, a former professor at Hamline University in St Paul, Minnesota, has filed a lawsuit against the institution, alleging religious discrimination and defamation after she lost her job for showing a class a historical artwork depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Before presenting the 14th-century illustration from an Islamic manuscript, she warned students they could opt out of the lesson, as many Muslims consider images of Muhammad un-Islamic. Despite this, a student who is president of the Muslim student association complained to university authorities.
The student said she felt the university did not value her as a member of the community. An administrator subsequently called the professor's actions Islamophobic, a label later recanted, and her adjunct contract was not renewed.
The incident has sparked debate over academic freedom and religious tolerance. Supporters including PEN America and a local history professor have criticised the university's decision, while Muslim groups have been divided. The national branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said there was no evidence of Islamophobic intent, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council defended the professor.
The controversy highlights differing Islamic views on depicting the Prophet, with no explicit Quranic prohibition but varying interpretations among Sunni and Shia traditions.
