B.C. Catholic teacher reprimanded for showing students a graphic video of the crusades

A Catholic elementary school teacher has been reprimanded for showing his Grade 5 students a violent and graphic video about the Crusades.

A B.C. Commissioner for Teacher Regulation ruling released Tuesday, Oct. 9,  said Hani Nabil Naguib Amin Malti was employed by the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese Jan. 12, 2017, when the video was shown. 

“Malti showed a seven-minute-long, age-inappropriate, graphic, narrated YouTube video about the Crusades wars containing graphic drawings showing violence, persecution, and torture,” reads the ruling.

“Some students reported being unable to get the images from the film out of their minds, causing them to feel disturbed and scared.”

The Crusades were a series of religious wars between Christians and Muslims starting in 1096 and going until 1291. They were primarily about securing control of holy sites in the Middle East that were considered sacred by both groups.

On Jan. 20, 2017, Catholic schools archdiocese issued Malti a letter of discipline, suspending him for three days. On that same day, they terminated Malti's employment "without cause."

The Commissioner considered this matter in May 2017 and determined to propose a consent resolution agreement to Malti.

Two years later on Aug. 29, 2019, the commissioner issued a citation to Malti.

According to the commissioner, Malti admitted to professional misconduct as a result of showing the video and was reprimanded.

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