The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) and the family of a Warner Robins Middle School student who was allegedly threatened with beheading by a teacher over an Israeli flag dispute are calling on the Houston County Board of Education to change communication policy to safeguard families, and for the Sheriff’s Office to take strict measures to ensure the community’s safety.
SEE: Middle school teacher arrested after allegedly threatening to behead Muslim student who said Israeli flag offended her
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/14/us/georgia-teacher-arrested-threatening-muslim-student-israeli-flag/index.html
Alaa Afifi, the father of the Warner Robins Middle School student shared in a statement:
1. We demand a change in the Houston County Board of Education Schools policy that governs the sharing of information between the school and students’ families involved in incidents. In our understanding of the current policy, families are not entitled to information under school investigation regardless of the severity of the danger to students.
2. We question the Magistrate Court of Houston County’s “Special Conditions of Bond” issued on December 10, 2023, and to release Mr. Benjamin Reese on $2,500 for terroristic threats and act-felony and $5,000 for cruelty to children third degree-misdemeanor without house arrest nor an ankle monitor to ensure the safety of our daughter. We feel strongly that this low bail bond amount does not reflect the severity of his crime and is not a sufficient deterrent for such abhorrent behavior of an educator in a school environment that is supposed to be safe for students.
3. We believe that Mr. Reese is not fit to be an educator of the Houston County Board of Education School system nor in the state of Georgia School system. We request the Houston County Board of Education ensure that Mr. Reese’s Georgia Ethics assessment certification GACE be revoked so he is not allowed to teach at any school in future.”
READ FULL STATEMENT HERE: CAIR-Georgia, Warner Robins Family Call on County BOE to Change Policy, Sheriff’s Office to Ensure Community Safety – CAIR Georgia
Azka Mahmood, CAIR-Georgia Executive Director stated:
“While we applaud the swift action taken by the school against Benjamin Reese immediately after the incident, authorities in Houston County owe their citizens a lot more to prevent future harm. Houston County set an extremely low bond for Benjamin Reese’s release. We are concerned that this potentially violent man could pose a threat to unsuspecting Muslims in Warner Robins.”
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: Azka Mahmood, CAIR-Georgia Executive Director [email protected], 678 653 5822