'How dare you complain?' University of Cincinnati professor out after comments to Muslim student

A University of Cincinnati professor is no longer teaching after making anti-Islamic comments toward a Muslim student.

One of his comments on her assignment read: “Muslim females are safer in America than in any Middle Eastern country. How dare you complain while enjoying our protection!”

The university investigated College-Conservatory of Music Assistant Professor Clifford Adams' comments after The Enquirer reported them in October. Another UC student had posted a photo of the exchange on Facebook.

"The university is committed to excellence and diversity in order to create the best living and learning environment on behalf of our students, faculty and staff," university spokesman Greg Vehr said in a statement Thursday. "We take seriously all allegations of discriminatory behavior. The university investigated this matter and followed the process for review under the collective bargaining agreement with the faculty."

Adams was put on administrative leave for the remainder of the spring semester and will retire May 1.

The Facebook post shows that Adams asked students to write about the song "Walk on Water" for a class assignment. His controversial comments about a Muslim student's response were made on a school website that was able to be seen by all students in the class.

Adams' responses, according to the screenshot of the Facebook post, included:

“The U.S. President’s first sworn duty is to protect America from enemies, and the greatest threat to our freedom is not the President, it is radical Islam. Review this list of Islamic terrorist attacks and then tell me about your hurt feelings.”

“Now, about Muslim females. As you well know, young Muslim women are murdered by their father or a brother for dating – or for holding hands with – a non-Muslim boy …”

Adams publicly apologized for his remarks two days after The Enquirer's story.

"As I reconsider what I wrote from an online student’s vantage point, I now realize that I did come across like a religious bigot and that makes me feel horrible," he said in a letter to The Enquirer. "I have inadvertently hurt feelings and offended many and for that I am deeply sorry."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cincinnati Chapter (CAIR-Cincinnati) filed a complaint with UC against the professor for his comments. The organization said it filed the complaint on behalf of the student, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal.

“No student should be attacked or bullied because of his or her faith,” CAIR-Cincinnati attorney Sana Hassan said in a statement Thursday. “A teacher’s job is to educate and protect students, not subject them to harassment or attacks because of their faith. We welcome the university’s decision to stand against bigotry and hate ... .”

A study by another CAIR chapter reported that 55 percent of American Muslim students experience some form of bullying based on their religious identity – twice the average for students who report being bullied at school. The study also said 20 percent of Muslim students have experienced discrimination by teachers and other school staff.