Muslim student’s family says no complaint against Gwinnett school
The family of a Muslim 13-year-old Gwinnett County middle school student who say a teacher asked if the student was carrying a bomb in her backpack has decided they will not file a religious discrimination complaint against the school district.
An attorney for the family initially said over the weekend the family would file the complaint, but sent out a retraction Monday. No explanation was given for the change.
The incident, first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, happened last month. The child's father, Abdirizak Aden, who was born in Somalia, said his daughter, who wears the hijab, was in class when a teacher stopped her and asked what she had in her book bag. The child said she remained silent. The unidentified teacher responded by asking her if she had a bomb in her bag.
The teacher told the student it was a joke, but knew went too far, especially because of “the things happening in the world right now,” said the daughter. Gwinnett school officials said the remark was not made with ill intent, but also said the teacher’s comments were inappropriate.
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About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
