A University of Cincinnati professor is being forced to retire after he told a Muslim student that female Muslims are safer in the U.S. than in the Middle East.

University of Cincinnati assistant professor Clifford Adams has been placed on administrative for the remainder of the semester and will retire May 1, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The news comes after the university investigated Mr. Adams in the fall for comments he made on a female student’s paper that another student had posted on Facebook.

“Muslim females are safer in America than in any Middle Eastern country. How dare you complain while enjoying our protection!” Mr. Adams reportedly wrote.

“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,” he wrote in another comment.

Mr. Adams later apologized for his remarks in a letter to The Enquirer.

“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 Nov. 2 letter. “I have inadvertently hurt feelings and offended many and for that I am deeply sorry.”

The university on Thursday issued a statement saying it investigated the matter and “followed the process for review under the collective bargaining agreement with the faculty.”

“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.

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