ACLU settles dispute with former TiZA school leaders

A legal battle between the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota and leaders of the now-defunct Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy charter school is nearing its end.

The ACLU announced Friday that a settlement reached earlier this year to resolve a 2009 civil case has been approved by all parties.

The ACLU sued TiZA in January 2009, accusing the school of using taxpayer money to promote Islam at its campuses in Blaine and Inver Grove Heights.

Under the settlement, former TiZA leaders Asad Zaman, Mahrous Kandil and Asif Rahman agree not to serve in leadership positions with any public Minnesota charter school for three years.

Zaman, the former school director, also agreed to pay the state of Minnesota $17,500 and drop more than $360,000 in claims he filed in bankruptcy court, the ACLU said.

Neither Zaman nor attorneys that represented TiZA could be reached for comment Friday.

The case in bankruptcy court is still pending.

TiZA closed its campuses in 2011.

See more on this Topic