NORTH CAROLINA –New details have emerged
in a case involving the beating of a 7-year-old boy on a school bus because he
was Muslim.
in a case involving the beating of a 7-year-old boy on a school bus because he
was Muslim.
Abdul Usmani was bruised and battered on
a school bus when he refused to eat a sandwhich that wasn’t halal.
a school bus when he refused to eat a sandwhich that wasn’t halal.
According to Usmani’s father, Dr.
Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, a classmate had tried to
force him to eat food that wasn’t halal. When Abdul Aziz refused, five of his
classmates ganged up on him, making fun of his name. They punched him in
the face, kicked him in the stomach, and twisted his arm while calling him
“Muslim” again and again.
Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, a classmate had tried to
force him to eat food that wasn’t halal. When Abdul Aziz refused, five of his
classmates ganged up on him, making fun of his name. They punched him in
the face, kicked him in the stomach, and twisted his arm while calling him
“Muslim” again and again.
“These are six and seven year old kids
calling him names, with one kid punching him in the face, while two other kids
attacked him, kicked him, and held his arms back,” Usmani said of his son.
calling him names, with one kid punching him in the face, while two other kids
attacked him, kicked him, and held his arms back,” Usmani said of his son.
The Council on Islamic American Relations
(CAIR) is calling for an investigation into the incident that took place on a
ride home from Weatherstone Elementary School in Cary, North Carolina last
friday.
(CAIR) is calling for an investigation into the incident that took place on a
ride home from Weatherstone Elementary School in Cary, North Carolina last
friday.
The father told BuzzFeed News that
his wife and three sons have left the US for Pakistan, claiming that the attack
on their son is just the latest in a series of incidents.
his wife and three sons have left the US for Pakistan, claiming that the attack
on their son is just the latest in a series of incidents.
He
remembers his middle son, 8 years old, being very angry one day after
being picked up from school. Apparently his classmates had told him his dad ― a
Pakistani man with a beard ― was a terrorist.
remembers his middle son, 8 years old, being very angry one day after
being picked up from school. Apparently his classmates had told him his dad ― a
Pakistani man with a beard ― was a terrorist.
“He asked me if I was a
terrorist,” Usmani recalled. After that, Bhagwanee asked him not to go to the
school anymore, “just so my children would not face any discrimination
because of my face.”
terrorist,” Usmani recalled. After that, Bhagwanee asked him not to go to the
school anymore, “just so my children would not face any discrimination
because of my face.”
Abdul is traumatized by the attack and
has a sprained arm.
has a sprained arm.
Lisa Luten, a spokesperson for the Wake
County Public School System, said that the principal of the school immediately
began investigating the alleged incident after the family told them about it.
County Public School System, said that the principal of the school immediately
began investigating the alleged incident after the family told them about it.
Speaking about allegation of
discrimination based on religion or race, Luten said, “When [the family]
originally shared the information, they didn’t share any info about religion or
race, and just that their child was bullied.”
discrimination based on religion or race, Luten said, “When [the family]
originally shared the information, they didn’t share any info about religion or
race, and just that their child was bullied.”
Usmani said his family will stay in
Pakistan until after the election to see if Donald Trump is elected to
determine if his family feels safe enough to return.
Pakistan until after the election to see if Donald Trump is elected to
determine if his family feels safe enough to return.
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council
on American-Islamic Relations, said the group wants the school system to do an
investigation and determine whether police should get involved.
on American-Islamic Relations, said the group wants the school system to do an
investigation and determine whether police should get involved.
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