According to recent reports, a Christian Professor from Wheaton College was put on a leave for showing Muslim support. Political science Professor Larycia Hawkins was suspended on Wednesday after saying that Muslims and Christians worship the same God.

Religion and religious practices have become the subjects of fiery debates lately, especially after the new Muslim attacks in California, San Bernardino and Paris. Muslim communities in the United States and outside the United States are being harshly contested with risks of innocent people being discriminated.

Political science Professor Larycia Hawkins from the Wheaton College wanted to show her support for Muslims around the world, especially during the Advent period. For this reason, the Professor made public on her Facebook page that she will be wearing a Muslim veil on her head all throughout the Advent period to show her support for Muslim communities.

Hawkins further stated that Muslims and Christians don’t have conflicting religious views. On the contrary, they worship the same God, so we should show support to one another. To user her own words, Hawkins lived out her Christian faith to become closer to the Muslim believers.

Her declarations and her acts have been immediately condemned by the members of the Wheaton College. The latter have announced that Larycia Hawkins has been put on an administrative leave because her religious views are not in keeping with the Evangelical practices they preach.

The news caused a stir among Hawkins’ students and other Christian believers, who have criticized the decision of the College. The 1,200 people, who have signed the petition Change.org ask the members of the educational institution to reinstate Hawkins. Student Carter Harms from Dallas was among the first to sign the petition because people should not be suspended for their acts of love.

Samantha Harris, a representative at the campus FIRE advocacy group for free speech, told mass media that the College cannot be held responsible for the decision they have made. Being a private institution, the College has the right to select the people they work with to have similar principles and opinions. It is students and professors’ duty to find out what free speech means for their school and what implications their declarations could have, she concluded.

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