This week’s video focuses upon the story of a 12-year-old who was allegedly called “terrorist” by a teacher, in front of classmates. Additionally, we look at an unusual spike in Islamophobic incidents on campus within the past week.
This will be a new focal point of the #HateHurts project. Be sure to share these videos and raise awareness.
by Imraan Siddiqi
Originally published at Mondoweiss:
When an incident of vandalism or hate graffiti takes place, most would write it off as an isolated incident – an act of foolishness. But when these incidents are taking place on college campuses across the U.S. – half a dozen in a week’s time, that’s cause for concern. So what’s going on here? Are these still isolated incidents? Or is campus Islamophobia on the verge of raging out of control? Take a look at these 6 incidents, and judge for yourself:
Idaho State University
On Monday, April 4th, anti-Muslim DVD’s were placed underneath the windshield wipers of vehicles at an Idaho State University parking lot. The copies of the DVD’s in white sleeves had a handwritten title: “Idaho Muslims & Tommy Robinson.” Robinson, is of course the well-known UK hate group leader, responsible for stoking anti-Muslim hatred through the English Defence League and PEGIDA-UK.
According to local news outlet KVPI, the DVD’s contained hateful rhetoric, describing all Muslims as terrorists, and describing the Qur’an as a “terrorist manual.” At least 20 of the videos were confiscated by the ISU Police, and the incident is under investigation.
University of Michigan
On March 30th, students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor found chalkings with the words “#Stop Islam” and “Trump 2016” scrawled largely in a common area at the school. Even though the message was offensive to many students, the school refused to remove the chalkings, citing “free speech.”
University of California-Riverside
The Department of Ethnic Studies at UC-Riverside reported news of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim vandalism during spring break. A Palestinian flag which was hanging in the department was torn down, along with mailboxes being rummaged through, and pictures of female students defaced. According to a professor in the department, Dylan Rodriguez, the crime was motivated by “anti-Muslim/Islamophobic sentiment.”
University of Massachusetts
On Monday, graffiti with the words “Stop Islam” was found outside the Fine Arts Building at UMass. This was just the latest in a string of incidents involving race and religion at the university. Earlier this year, a swastika was found at a campus restroom, and racist fliers were sent to printers and fax machines on campus. The university held a diversity forum this past week to discuss this rash of issues.
University of Kansas
Twitter user @therealshegufta – who is the Student Senate Vice President at the University of Kansas pointed out an anti-Muslim chalking that appeared on campus Monday:
To read the entire story, click here:
by Hibah Ilyas
On April 2, a man from Singapore was arrested for his connection to the recent attack of three young Muslim women on their way to their Islamic school.
The girls, ages 14-16, were on their separate ways to school, Madrasah Al-Ma’arif Al-Islamiah, which is located near a MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station, when they were allegedly attacked by 48-year-old Koh Weng Onn, around 7:20 AM.
A Facebook post by the school’s discipline mistress revealed that “the first girl was allegedly kicked on the left thigh, the second was allegedly hit with a plastic bag containing “a heavy item” and the third was believed to have been hit in one of her eyes with the bag.”
Authorities also revealed that they also hold a Chinese suspect in custody.
Shortly after the incident, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said: “An attack on the innocent can never be condoned. My thoughts are with the young girls and I hope they recover soon.”
Others also condone the act and Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam called out to Singaporeans to reach out to the Muslims in their communities “to build social cohesion and prevent prejudice against Muslims from developing” after meeting with 60 other Muslims students who voiced their concerns about the rise in Islamophobia in Singapore.
In the aftermath of the arrest, Onn’s brother has apologized on behalf of the family for the attacks. The assailant faces up to three years in prison, and fines up to $7,500 based on the charge of a “racially motivated crime.”
For more information on this story, Click Here:
Hibah Ilyas is a CAIR-AZ intern, focusing on the study of Islamophobia and its impact. She is also a high school senior.
A 12-year-old Muslim middle school student in Fort Bend County, Texas has claimed that his teacher referred to him as a “terrorist” in front of his peers. Waleed Abushaaban and his classmates were watching the movie Bend it Like Beckham in their Language Arts class at First Colony Middle School in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land when the incident took place. Waleed says that he was laughing at the movie, when the teacher said “I wouldn’t be laughing, if I were you.” When the student asked why, the teacher allegedly claimed “Because we all think you’re a terrorist.”
According to Waleed’s account, this prompted other students to join in on the bullying.
Via KHOU: “They were like, ‘oh I see a bomb!’ and they started all laughing and making jokes,” he told the station. “I was upset and I felt like I was put in the corner and like everybody was just looking at me.“
Abushaaban went to his principal and, and the school district has now placed the teacher on paid leave, pending investigation.
A statement from the district stated: “While the teacher reports her statements were made in the context of trying to make a point about negative stereotypes, District officials do not believe that the teacher exercised the appropriate sensitivity expected of the District’s educators, and do not believe that the statements were made in a manner that is in keeping with the District’s Core Beliefs and Commitments.”
Waleed’s family is seeking for the teacher to be removed from her post, as they feel that he was targeted based off his religion and ethnicity.
Texas is no stranger to Islamophobia in the classroom. Last year in Irving, Ahmed Mohamed was handcuffed in front of classmates – as a project he showed to a teacher was reported as a hoax-bomb. Texas schools have long been on the radar of anti-Islam rhetoric, despite very large Muslim populations in cities like Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. This article also highlights some of the long-term Islamophobic issues surrounding Texas and its schools.
For more information on this story, Click Here:
A Sikh man and his friend were walking to find a cab in Quebec City, when he was jumped by a group of three men. Supninder Khera was initially out with a group of friends, when he and the other man in the group broke off – and were shouted down by a passing car.
As documented in the attack, three men exited from the car and began punching and kicking Khera. His turban was knocked off in the attack, and the three men got into their car and attempted to speed off. He said the men were yelling mostly in French, but believes this was a bias attack.
Khera just recently moved to Toronto, and says he was just visiting Quebec City when the attack took place. Police say two men have been arrested in connection with the attack – however neither of the men have been charged with a hate crime at this point.
For more information on this story, click here:
by Hibah Ilyas
Eaman-Amy Saad Shebley and her family were on their way to Washington DC for spring break when they were asked to leave the aircraft they boarded because of “safety of flight issues”.
A little while after inquiring about child safety seats, an air hostess followed by the aircraft’s pilot asked them to exit the plane. The family immediately rushed to customer service where they were rebooked for a later flight.
When United Airlines was asked to comment, they replied that the family was asked to leave because the child safety seat “did not comply with federal safety regulations” and that they hold their employees to the “highest standard of professionalism and have zero tolerance for discrimination.”
Here is a link to United’s reply to a Twitter user:
Shebley has shared her story on her Facebook page saying “shame on you United Airlines for profiling my family and me for no reason other than how we look.” Advocacy group CAIR-Chicago is now looking into this case.
For more information on this story, Click Here:
Hibah Ilyas is a high-school senior, and an intern with CAIR-AZ
A video that was posted on March 27th on a teen’s Facebook account captures a disturbing case of racial harassment in Coldwater, Michigan. The incident, as described by the account owner states that the unidentified man wearing a suit became angered by a group of friends shopping at the same gas station convenience store.
After filling up gas, the teen (Ahmed Mohsen) claims that his friend placed their payment for gas on top of the man’s case of beer. This triggered him to say “Don’t touch my s**t” – and the ensuing altercation.
As captured on the video, the man exclaims “I’m a U.S. Marine dude. I’ve been to Fallujah. I’ve killed your mother f***ing kind.” He then begins to walk away, saying “Many many times. Many times.” The boys, who are of Arab American descent clearly being targeted based on their ethnicity based on these comments.
The video captures the assailant driving away screaming “You’re going to die…”
The Arab American News interviewed Mohsen, who also reiterated the fact that they were being targeted racially. The Coldwater Police have just become aware of the story, and are pledging to look into the incident further. For more information on this story, Click Here:
