StarTribune.com's Katherine Kersten reports that a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights Minnesota is regarded as a public school. Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) is definitely an Islamic institution getting tax money. Why? It's another Muslim intrusion, taking advantage of a democracy. But school officialdom should stop it now.

Students are led into groups for Muslim prayers. These are obligatory.

They are taught Islamic lessons from Muslim texts.

They attend Muslim focused assemblies.

The school houses a mosque, its director is a Muslim imam, and its endorsers are Islamic Relief members.

Cafeteria food only includes Islamic menus.

Students are led into a foot washing room per Islamic foot washing rituals. School buses leave the premises only after Islamic studies are concluded. In other words, every student has to take the lessons.

'Why does the Minnesota Department of Education allow this sort of religious activity at a public school?

'The department's records document only three site visits to TIZA in five years -- two in 2003-04 and one in 2007," according to Assistant Commissioner Morgan Brown.

'None of the visits focused specifically on religious practices.'

'The ACLU of Minnesota has launched an investigation of TIZA, and the Minnesota Department of Education has also begun a review.'

It's about time.

For further detail, contact Katherine Kersten • kkersten@startribune.com