Abdullahi Ahmed, the Somali-born assistant superintendent for student, family and community partnerships at Portland Public Schools, proposed changes to the district’s policy on dogs and other animals, citing Islamic beliefs about “ritual purity.” “In Islamic tradition there is always love for animals and living things and compassion for animals. With that being said, there are some ritual purity, that Islamic traditions state and Muslims exercise, so, for example, dog saliva is considered impure,” he said. Ahmed, who is from Somalia, delivered all of his statements while sitting in front of an Iraqi flag.