Huron University College Controversy
In 2011, Huron University College of The University of Western Ontario announced that its Anglican theology department will appoint Mattson as the Chair of the Islamic Studies Program. Two million dollars in funding was provided by the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) and International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIT). Alumni of Huron college protested the decision because of alleged links between the two groups - which they allege receive funding from Saudi Arabia - and the Muslim Brotherhood. A particular cause for concern was the MAC's endorsement of Iman Hassan Al-Banna, who once stated "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it". The alumni also expressed concern at the fact that both Shaykh Taha Jabir al-Alwani, the former president of IIT and Jamal Barzinji, the vice-president, have been implicated in funding for alleged terrorist groups, specifically the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. There have also been allegations by former students that there was intolerance against non-Muslims and the critique of Islamic tenets under Mattson's watch at Hartford Seminary.
In 2011, in response to allegations made against Mattson, Stephen McClatchie, the principal of Huron College expressed his support for Mattson and stated that he does not believe that Mattson is a Wahhabi.
Read more about this topic: Ingrid Mattson
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