Florida Teacher Allegedly Calls Muslim Teen A ‘Rag-Head Taliban’

A teacher in Weston, Fla. allegedly referred to a teenage Muslim student as a “rag-head Taliban,” television station WBFS reported on Monday.

Deyab-Houssein Wardani, 14, told the station he was verbally accosted by his French teacher when he walked into class wearing a hoodie.

“She said, ‘Oh no, the rag-head Taliban is here,’” Wardani told WBFS. “She started saying it more frequently as if it was my name, and for around next two or three days she was just calling me ‘Taliban’ or ‘rag-head Taliban’ on and off.”

According to WBFS, a spokeswoman for the Broward County Public Schools said the district was not considering terminating the teacher. However, a five-day suspension had been recommended by the district’s superintendent.

Deyab-Houssein’s father, Youssef Wardini, said that outcome wasn’t sufficient and expressed concern about his unsuccessful attempts to resolve the issue with both the teacher and the principal.

“Five days suspension, that’s not acceptable,” Youssef Wardani said. “She either gets fired or suspended for one year without pay and we get a public apology.”

The Broward County Public Schools released a statement to WBFS which read:

“Broward County Public Schools respects and values the diversity of our students, families and communities. This situation is being taken seriously; the District launched an immediate investigation into the matter and will be bringing forward, to the School Board in March, a recommendation for disciplinary action regarding this situation.”

Wardani, who addressed the Broward School Board on Tuesday, according to the Sun-Sentinel, has gained the support of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida (CAIR). The group may decide to pursue legal action against the district, according to the paper.