Muslim Activist Group Upset By Teacher's Alleged "Hate Speech"
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group is standing behind a Weston father who is upset with his son's teacher, after she allegedly called him a "rag-head Taliban."
Deyab-Houssein Wardani, 14, said he walked into French class at Cypress Bay High School last month wearing a hoodie—that's when he said she called him a "rag-head Taliban."
"She started saying it more frequently as if it was my name, and for around next two or three days she was just calling me 'Taliban' or 'rag-head Taliban' on and off," Wardani told CBS4's Maggie Newland Monday.
Deyab-Houssein Wardani's father, Youssef Wardani, is outraged and wants the teacher punished.
Youssef Wardani spoke to the school board Tuesday—and a representative with the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida (CAIR Florida) was there to back him up.
"Twenty-eight days later my son still goes to class. The teacher is still in class. You have not done anything about it. The school, the union, the district has disappointed my family and my son," said the student's father Youssef Wardani.
"Sorry and disappointed that you, your family, your son (our student), have had to go through this turmoil," said Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie.
The district is proposing the teacher get an unpaid 5-day suspension but that's not acceptable to the student's father.
"I want her to be fired. If they don't want to fire her, I am looking for a suspension of at least one year without pay. I don't want her to go on vacation with my tax dollars," said Youssef Wardani.
READ: Dad Outraged Over Teacher's Alleged Racist Comments To Son
CAIR put out a statement Tuesday in response to the alleged name-calling.
"We are sickened to learn that a Broward County school teacher is bullying a Muslim student by referring to him as a 'rag-head Taliban,'" said Thania Diaz Clevenger, Esq., Civil Rights Director for CAIR Florida. "This type of hate speech is rooted in bigotry and misinformation and cannot be tolerated. It is the job of our educators to nurture young minds with accurate information and not breed an environment of intolerance and hate."
Broward County Public Schools issued a statement Monday that reads:
"Broward County Public Schools respects and values the diversity of our students, families and communities. This situation is being taken seriously; the District launched an immediate investigation into the matter and will be bringing forward, to the School Board in March, a recommendation for disciplinary action regarding this situation."
A spokeswoman for Broward County Public Schools said Monday that termination is not on the table. Instead the superintendent has recommended a five day suspension for the teacher who has been with the district since 2004 and has no prior disciplinary history in her file.
