An investigation is underway in a New Jersey school district after a parent accused a teacher of yanking a hijab off her second grader, reports NBC News.
The alleged incident happened at Seth Boyden Elementary School in Maplewood, New Jersey where Team USA Olympic bronze medalist fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad is from.
Muhammad who inspired a hijab-wearing Barbie doll took to social media to support the young girl.
“Imagine being a child and stripped of your clothing in front of your classmates. Imagine the humiliation and trauma this experience has caused her. This is abuse. Schools should be a haven for all of our kids to feel safe, welcome and protected— no matter their faith,” Muhammad wrote.
The child’s mom, Cassandra Wyatt, said her daughter Sumayyah no longer wants to wear Muslim clothing to school after what happened.
“Ultimately, the teacher succeeds in pulling the hijab off her head, followed by a bizarre statement which is, ‘Your hair is beautiful,'” the family’s attorney said to ABC7. “It is incredibly disturbing. It is very, very, symbolic of disregard of her religion and certainly something that has affected my clients overall.”
An email from the district to parents reviewed by NBC NY said “We will utilize the existing District due process mechanisms to ensure fair and just outcomes based upon the results of our investigation. Any decision or outcome related to this will be reserved for after the completion of the investigation,” the statement read.
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