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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russian Teen Goes To Court To Not Be Taught Evolution |
| 2006-12-14 |
| A Russian court on Wednesday held hearings in an unprecedented lawsuit brought by a 15-year-old student who says being taught the theory of evolution in school violates her rights and insults her religious beliefs. The suit is the first of its kind in Russia. Maria Shreiber sued the St. Petersburg city education committee, claiming the 10th-grade biology textbook used at the Cervantes Gymnasium was offensive to believers and that teachers should offer an alternative to Darwin's famous theory. "The biology textbook generally refers to religion and the existence of God in a negative way. It infringes on believers' rights," she said in comments carried by Russian television stations. Shreiber could not be immediately located for further comment. Her father, Kiril Schreiber, who represented her in court Wednesday, said he wants the biology textbook revised. School officials, meanwhile, were dismissive of the suit. Principal Andrei Polozov said he doubted Shreiber had "serious religions beliefs." "It seems to everyone that this is stupid and serves no purpose," he said of the lawsuit in televised comments. "Pupils and teachers are more amused than concerned about it." Deputy Principal Olga Makarova told The Associated Press that the biology teacher had mentioned alternative theories to evolution. "When starting the course on the matter, the biology teacher said that there are other versions of humanity's origin," she said. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 you have a full right to embrace the ignorance of your religion. now get out of school. it opposes your beliefs. join the jizya of religous rights. |
| Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-12-14 17:47 |
| #1 When we (and Russia) have true freedom *ducks* |
| Posted by: BA 2006-12-14 09:43 |