Reuters is reporting that copies of the Koran were recently removed from Los Angeles public schools. The books, entitled The Meaning of the Holy Koran, contained an English translation of the Koran and a commentary on its meaning.

The books were donated post-September 11th by a group called Omar Ibn Khattab Foundation, ostensibly to promote religious tolerance and understanding. Ironically, the books were removed from the schools after it was discovered that the commentary in this tome of tolerance and understanding referred to Jews as “arrogant” and “illiterate”, among other things.

So, let me get this straight: If the Bible or the Torah were to be found in public schools, the ACLU would have been in court within five minutes to have it removed—and it would have been. But the Koran can go into schools and will only be removed when found to contain offensive commentary. I guess separation of church and state only applies to certain churches.

(A Clintonesque response would be that the Constitution says nothing of the separation of mosque and state.)

An Associated Press update on this story indicates that the books were removed “for further review”, implying that the books might be returned to the shelves. A quote from Los Angeles Unified School District official Jim Konantz seems to support this: “We’re going to talk to the foundation members and determine exactly why the commentary’s there and whether there is research to support it.”

So, in other words, if the school district finds evidence supporting the notion that Jews are indeed “arrogant” and “illiterate”, then The Meaning of the Holy Koran will be returned to school shelves. I respectfully suggest that they refrain from citing any German research conducted during the 1930s and 1940s.