Art professor sues Minnesota university that fired her over complaints about Prophet Muhammad images

An adjunct professor is suing the Minnesota university that terminated her employment after a Muslim student objected to images of the Prophet Muhammad that she taught in a global art course. Meanwhile, the school admitted to a "misstep" and said it plans to hold public conversations about academic freedom.

In her lawsuit, Erika López Prater, the professor, alleges that Hamline University — a small, private school in St. Paul — subjected her to religious discrimination and defamation, and damaged her professional and personal reputation.

"Among other things, Hamline, through its administration, has referred to Dr. López Prater's actions as 'undeniably Islamophobic,''' her attorneys said in a statement. "Comments like these, which have now been published in news stories around the globe, will follow Dr. López Prater throughout her career, potentially resulting in her inability to obtain a tenure track position at any institution of higher education."