Civil Rights Group Acknowledges School’s Cooperation With Family, Urges Restorative Measures
(BALTIMORE, MD, 6/2/2022) – The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned reports of racist bullying and threats against a Muslim student enrolled in Montgomery County Public Schools, and welcomed school officials’ response to address the family’s concerns and identify solutions to protect the student’s physical and emotional well-being.
The student’s mother told CAIR that her son Mohamed was recently physically and verbally assaulted by a peer at A. Mario Loiederman Middle School. He was reportedly placed in a headlock, “slammed against the wall” and stepped on by another student. Afterwards, a video of the incident recorded by the perpetrator’s friend was reportedly posted to social media.
The parent shared with CAIR screenshots of what appear to be racially motivated taunts and a death threat made against her son. She filed a police report and asked the school to make accommodations for her son to be able to complete assignments virtually as she feared for his safety especially in the aftermath of recent national mass shootings and threats reported at area schools. The perpetrator has since returned to class.
Earlier this week, CAIR contacted a school administrator on the family’s behalf after learning that the student would be withdrawn from school if he did not resume in-person learning. Yesterday, the student’s parent informed CAIR that the school is now working with the family to make mutually agreeable arrangements for her son to safely finish out the school year.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“No child should have to endure this kind of traumatic experience in any school. The epidemic of gun violence sweeping our nation’s schools makes it imperative that threats against any student not be taken lightly. This parent’s courage and perseverance in advocating for her son could have helped avoid a more disastrous outcome. CAIR welcomes the school’s Vice Principal Mr. Barnett, Parent Community Coordinator Saadia Hentati and other administrators’ support for this family. We urge them to take age-appropriate restorative action against the student responsible for the threats and attack so he understands the harm his actions have caused and so that a repeat incident can be avoided in the future.”
“The past two weeks have been very challenging for my family and me,” said the Muslim student’s parent, Mrs. Sona Keita, in a statement to CAIR. “The school incident took a toll on us, leaving us feeling restless, fearful and scared. Fights, bullying and threats have to be handled appropriately. We want a better society for our families, bullying is a big issue in our community. I really hope and pray that the school does better when students are affected. I am speaking up on behalf of my son and all the mothers/parents that are going through the same experience and choose to stay silent just because they don’t know where to go for resources or who to turn to.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:CAIR Office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062