South Brunswick BOE Member Faces Policy Violation Over Halal Food Comments

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – A South Brunswick Board of Education member has been removed from her committee assignments following community outcry over social media posts about Halal food certification that many residents deemed offensive.

Board member Deepa Karthik, who is Hindu, sparked controversy in May when she posted on social media questioning the need for Halal certification on products like tea, coffee, rice, and spices. In her post, Karthik wrote: "As a Hindu I don't consume Halal products. Halal is a specific method of slaughter and contamination. There is no reason for tea, coffee, rice, wheat, spices, vegetables, milk, sweets etc to be Halal certified."

Karthik also posted criticism of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai for remaining silent on what she described as "forced conversions, rape and unspeakable abuse that is being carried out on Hindu girls" in Pakistan.

The posts were made during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that led to a brief military conflict between the two nations.

Screenshots of Karthik's Facebook posts circulated widely on social media and within the community, prompting strong reactions at the May 22 Board of Education meeting. Muslim community members criticized her comments as "misinformed," "Islamophobic," "hateful," and "divisive." Some residents called for an investigation and demanded her removal from the board.

During a special meeting on Thursday, Board President Laura Hernandez announced that Karthik had violated the district's social media policy for board members. While noting the board's limited authority to remove elected members, Hernandez said the board could express dissatisfaction and remove members from committee assignments.

"We have found that Ms. Karthik did, in fact, violate policy 016, 9.02 board member use of social networks with her social media posts," Hernandez said. As a result, Karthik was removed from the education and policy committees.

"I want to reiterate that we do not condone what has transpired and want all to know that these types of actions are not accepted by this governing body," Hernandez added.

Karthik responded by apologizing for her comments, claiming she had omitted a word that caused misunderstanding. She said she meant to write that Halal is "a specific method of slaughter 'to restrict' contamination," rather than suggesting contamination occurs.

In a lengthy statement, Karthik described facing a "concerted smear campaign" following her posts, including professional intimidation through emails to her employer's HR department. She emphasized her record of inclusivity on the board, noting her vote to include Christmas on the school calendar and her support for adding Halal options to school cafeterias.

"In my four years as a member of the South Brunswick Board of Education, my conduct and my focus, including my voting record, has been unbiased and viewed through the singular lens of what is right for our children," Karthik said.

During public comments, several residents spoke in support of Karthik and criticized the board's response. A high school sophomore, Om B., called for more civil discourse and urged community members to attend regular board meetings rather than only appearing during controversies.

"Many of you have called for shame. Many of you have called for complete resignation of the board. This is not what civil debate looks like," the student said. "We should focus on reducing tensions, and we should focus on understanding that despite all of our religious differences, we're all Americans."

Here is Deepa Karthik’s statement in full:

Since May 22, 2025, my life has been in a turmoil perpetuated by a concerted smear campaign using my personal opinions on my personal social media page, which were used to attack my deeply held religious dietary practices and an attack on my freedom of expression. This was triggered by a person who has a history of attacking another South Brunswick board member who too had expressed her personal views. I wasn't afforded even 48 hours to respond to the email that I received on the subject. Instead, there was an attempt to defame, demonize and vilify me by the same person on our South Brunswick Facebook community page. I was called a xenophobe, an Islamophobe, a shameless, disgusting human being, all because I missed fully explaining the mention of one word.

Immediately the next day, on Friday, May 23, in my letter to the person, I took full accountability for missing to fully express myself, I also expressed my deep regret at the unintended heart my social media post had cost The community, and offered my heartfelt apologies for the same. However, to my horror, on the next working day, there was a targeted attack by a group of people who demanded adverse action from my employer. Apparently, there were multiple emails to my HR department seeking to harm me professionally. This intimidation and harassment has taken an immense psychological toll on me, personally and my family, especially my children, have been deeply affected by these acts.

In my four years as a member of the South Brunswick Board of Education, my conduct and my focus, including my voting record, has been unbiased and viewed through the singular lens of what is right for our children. In the BOE meeting of February 27, 2025, there was a vote to include Christmas holiday on the calendar. There was a huge debate on this topic, and I was one of the only five members who voted in favor of the inclusion of Christmas in the holiday calendar. This is a very recent incident which is a testament to my religious tolerance and inclusiveness.

Recently, we were informed that Halal will be made available in the cafeteria. I welcome this inclusive move to support all those who require this dietary accommodation, and my colleagues on this board can attest to the same. This is again a testament to my cultural and religious inclusivity going back years as a person of Hindu faith, educated in a Christian parochial school, who grew up in a community which was predominantly Muslim. I have a fair understanding of pluralism and continue to cherish and have a warm relationship with many friends from various states, including the Muslim community.

It has always been my endeavor to work towards fairness equal opportunities and space for members of all faiths and all groups. My actions have been guided by my personal value system of fair mindedness, compassion and acceptance of differing views. I want to thank the countless messages of support I have received from the Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Muslim community members. My presence here today is proof that I deeply cherish the importance of civil discourse and dialog and the value of freedom, justice, and pursuit of happiness that our great country was built on. On that note, I hope we can all put this behind us and move towards greater understanding, love and acceptance of each other. May God bless America.

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