US President Barack Obama has
issued a White House invitation to a Muslim schoolboy who was arrested for
bringing a homemade clock to school.
Ninth-grade high school student
Ahmed Mohamed from Irving, Texas, was arrested on Monday after his teachers
reported him to the police for making a clock, which they said resembled a
bomb.
Ahmed Mohamed from Irving, Texas, was arrested on Monday after his teachers
reported him to the police for making a clock, which they said resembled a
bomb.
The arrest prompted outrage with
thousands expressing their anger at authorities for arresting a 14-year-old boy
over his school project.
thousands expressing their anger at authorities for arresting a 14-year-old boy
over his school project.
Social media users rallied behind
the teen using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed, which has picked up more than
500,000 mentions on Twitter so far, according to analytics site Topsy, and
continues to rise rapidly.
the teen using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed, which has picked up more than
500,000 mentions on Twitter so far, according to analytics site Topsy, and
continues to rise rapidly.
Police have said they will not
charge Mohamed but he told reporters on Wednesday that he remains suspended
from school until Thursday.
charge Mohamed but he told reporters on Wednesday that he remains suspended
from school until Thursday.
Many of the comments cited
Mohamed’s religious and ethnic background as the probable cause of his arrest,
a viewpoint shared by the largest Muslim civil advocacy group in the US.
Mohamed’s religious and ethnic background as the probable cause of his arrest,
a viewpoint shared by the largest Muslim civil advocacy group in the US.
Ibrahim Hooper, the spokesman for
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Al Jazeera that it was
“obvious” the school boy’s religion had played a role in his arrest.
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Al Jazeera that it was
“obvious” the school boy’s religion had played a role in his arrest.
“We believe the arrest would
not have occurred if the student had not been Muslim … the school’s reaction
and that of the police stems from the fact that he is a Muslim,” Hooper
said.
not have occurred if the student had not been Muslim … the school’s reaction
and that of the police stems from the fact that he is a Muslim,” Hooper
said.
“It is a symptom of growing
Islamophobia that a 14-year-old was handcuffed and dragged away for doing a
science project.”
Islamophobia that a 14-year-old was handcuffed and dragged away for doing a
science project.”
Obama’s open invitation
Astronaut Chris Hadfield, and systems
engineer Bobak Ferdowsi who are NASA scientists also gave their backing to
Mohamed.
engineer Bobak Ferdowsi who are NASA scientists also gave their backing to
Mohamed.
Technology giant Google also
weighed in on the issue, inviting Mohamed to a science fair, and asking him to
bring his clock.
weighed in on the issue, inviting Mohamed to a science fair, and asking him to
bring his clock.
Many others on Twitter drew comparisons between how US authorities
treated white people who carried arms and how they treated black youth like
Mohamed, who were involved in benign activities.
treated white people who carried arms and how they treated black youth like
Mohamed, who were involved in benign activities.
One user poked fun at US police for arresting a child for carrying
something as harmless as a clock.
something as harmless as a clock.
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