A Ramadan display at a Texas school was removed on Monday after authorities said it violated the school’s policy of political and religious neutrality.The district told the Houston Chronicle that “campus leaders were directed to remove the display due to its religious nature.” A spokesman said the removal followed a complaint from a parent at Bunker Hill Elementary School.Chairman Casey Kaf Alghazal said the decorations were put up by the Parent-Teacher Association Cultural Awareness Committee. She said the school has displayed Ramadan decorations in the past.Khaf Algazar said the move was politically motivated. The committee also puts up decorations for Hanukkah, Christmas and Easter. She said she had offered to offer a nativity scene at Christmas, but no one took it up.“My kids feel seen. That’s how it should be – for every kid to feel seen,” Khaf Algazar said. The Harris County chapter of Freedom Moms, a conservative group focused on parents’ rights, posted photos of the display online last week. The Instagram post showed “Ramadan Mubarak” signs, a crescent moon, stars and lanterns. The crescent moon and star are considered symbols of Islam.“Christmas trees, Easter eggs, and bunnies are allowed because they are secular symbols, but the cross is a Christian symbol and therefore not allowed, just like the crescent moon should not be allowed. You cannot promote any particular religion in public schools. This is according to U.S. law,” the group “Free Moms” wrote on social media.Khaf Alghazal said it felt like a form of anti-Muslim bigotry, noting that other religious symbols such as the Star of David and menorah had been on display before. After the Ramadan display was taken down, the PTA also took down the Easter decorations in the interest of fairness, she said.“So, all the kids are suffering right now because of this,” she said.The incident comes as Texas debates religious issues in public schools, including a ban on some Islamic schools from participating in the state’s private school voucher program. Conservative commentator Amy Meck also shared the story on social media, praising the expulsion and calling it a victory for parental rights.She wrote on the
