A father and son are denying accusations of preaching religious and political extremism.
Jaan Islam, 13, was a student at the school Maritime Muslim Academy in Halifax until a week ago, but now both he and his father, Rafiq Islam, have been banned from the property.
The school's principal says the free expression of ideas is welcome at the academy, but he claims Jaan and his father crossed a line.
"We forbid extremism," says Hadi Salah. "We don't forbid Islamic diversity, we allow diverse Islamic views, but extreme and fanatical Islamic views, we don't accept them."
However, Jaan and his father say they are astonished by the accusations and say they are strongly opposed to the faith of Islam being used to promote any racist or violent political agenda.
"The extremism he was talking about, that's the same one my son criticized," says Rafiq Islam. "And that's why he got in trouble."
Jamal Badawi is a respected Islamic scholar, now retired from Saint Mary's University in Halifax. He says interpretations of Islamic law and theology are diverse, but he also says that the Qur'an insists on the peaceful acceptance of other faiths and races.
He says the word jihad really refers to internal struggle.
"They connect the term jihad with violent actions that are anti-Islamic, because somebody says it is jihad," explains Badawi.
While classes at the Maritime Muslim Academy are winding down, Jaan says he feels uncertain about his own future.
"I don't know where I'm going to go," he says. "I don't know whether I'm going to a public school, am I going to go back here? Because I think this school has good potential."
While all those involved have expressed a desire to settle the dispute, there is no sign that will be done anytime soon.
Both sides say they are consulting lawyers.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw
