DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights 20th District Chief Judge Mark Plawecki dismissed the criminal charges brought against four Arab American high school football players from Star International Academy on Wednesday.

“This court declines to criminalize football today,” Plawecki said. While announcing his ruling, Plawecki added that whoever authorized the charges has never watched or played football.

ACRL chairman and attorney Nabih Ayad (c) posing with Star Acadamy founder Nawal Hamadeh, the four high school football players that had assault charges against them dismissed and supporters.  Photo Courtesy of ACRL

He cited a number of incidents where athletes exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct, and were never charged. Plawecki said he won’t be the first judge to criminally charge athletes.

The prosecution failed to provide one incident involving an athlete who was charged in either the state or country, essentially hurting its case. This may be the first instance  where athletes have been criminally charged for a game scuffle.

“We accept the decision of the court and have no plans to appeal the matter,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said following Plawecki’s ruling.

The aggravated assault misdemeanor charges occurred late October after Academy students Ali Bajjey, Fanar Al-Asady, Hadee Attia and Mohamed Ahmed got into a brawl with Lutheran High School football players during a game. Three Academy students were charged with allegedly assaulting a quarterback of the opposing team.  A fourth was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly assaulting a coach.

Lutheran’s quarterback suffered a head concussion. There were also reports Academy players punched and kicked the quarterback. Some were disappointed in the judge’s decision saying other players were hurt.

“This is a big relief. Honestly, I was scared to lose my scholarship,” said Attia. All four Academy students are on the honor roll; have scholarships and expected to start college this Fall. “I’m starting college. I just wanted the charges dropped,” said Ahmed.

The courtroom was filled with primarily Arab Americans who showed up to support members of their community. Many including reporters were forced to remain outside because of the amount of attendees.

Since the case’s beginning civil rights attorney Nabih Ayad argued that while the students acted inappropriately their conduct was not criminal or outside the norms of football.

 Ayad is the chairman of the Arab Civil Rights League (ACRL) which handled the case, and ultimately had a profound impact on the fate and future of the students.

 “We are proud as a community that the judge did the right thing and dismissed the charges,” Ayad said. He says as a parent and civil rights activist he was outraged by the charges.  

 While the ARCL recently launched only a few months ago, its commitment to serving civil equality and social justice is clear. What lies ahead for the organization seems to be nothing short of success.

 The case led to speculation of racial animus and selective prosecution. Ayad’s law firm, Ayad and Associates P.C. filed a motion to dismiss the charges on behalf of the defendants.

 The dismissal of these charges sends the message that this community will not stand idly by while it is targeted with unfair, unprecedented, and meritless prosecution a statement released by the ACRL read.  

“Star International Academy and the community are truly blessed to have had the ACRL’s support with the countless and tireless efforts of its gifted and talented founding member, Attorney Ayad and his staff,” Nawal Hamadeh, Founder, Superintendent and CEO of Star International Academy said.

 “I am amazed by the level of professionalism and extensive review of the case that was done by Mr. Ayad and further, by the Honorable Judge Mr. Plawecki, for their objectivity, and the level of fairness which make us proud to be American citizens.”

 Emotions ran high following the judge’s decision. A mother of one of the players was spotted crying. The case has weighed heavily on the families of the defendants, who were all afraid the students would lose their scholarships.

 The Council on American Islamic Relations Michigan, NAACP Western Wayne County, Arab Student Union and the Academy participated in helping address the nature of the charges to the public.

ACRL Executive Director Rashid Baydoun stated, “It is obstacles and challenges such as the four Star International Academy football players being subjected to ridiculous and unprecedented charges that serves as a reminder that we have lots more work to do.”