Georgia Teacher Asks Muslim Teen If She Has a Bomb in Her Backpack

A teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia is facing criticism for asking a Muslim teen at Shiloh Middle School if she was carrying a bomb in her backpack.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Abdirizak Aden said his daughter (whose name was not released to the media) was stopped by the teacher and asked what she was carrying in her backpack. When the girl didn't answer right away, the teacher then asked if she had a bomb. 

"It was very disrespectful," the girl said. "I came there to learn." Her father said he was upset and wanted to pull his daughter from the school. 

"I didn't teach my children to hate people or to think they are better than other people," Aden said. 

The teen said the teacher indicated the comment was a joke that went too far because of "the things happening in the world right now."

According to a school spokesperson, the teacher (who has also not been named by officials) was trying to get the students to put their backpacks away quickly when she made the remark. The spokesperson said the school said the remark was "was not appropriate" but they do not believe it was made with "ill intent."

The school's principal reached out to the student and apologized and said that they will work with the teacher. 

Board president of the Georgia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Yusof Burke told the AJC the comment  was "disturbing" and "shows the level of Islamophobia impacting people's relationships with one another."

As for the father and daughter, they said that while they forgive the teacher for the remark, they do wish the school would push for more sensitivity training. 

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