A New Jersey teacher has been accused of telling an Arab American Muslim student, "we don't negotiate with terrorists" in response to a request for a homework extension.
The teacher has now been suspended, per district officials, as reported by USA Today.
The incident allegedly occurred on Wednesday, October 27, during the first lesson at Ridgefield Memorial High School in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
The student in question has been identified as Mohammed Zubi, and is a senior, according to a statement by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ).
Zubi explained to CAIR-NJ that he had asked for extra time on his homework while in a maths class — the teacher then responded with the discriminatory remark.
Speaking with ABC7, Zubi said: "He responded saying, 'we don't negotiate with terrorists', so I look around in shock, there's people laughing, and there's other people in shock, and I turn around and ask my friend, 'did he really just say that?' and she said yes.
Zubi said he doesn’t feel like going back to school, as he's been made to feel "really uncomfortable".
"I don’t want to see anyone, and I've been in my room all day – don't want to see my friends, especially after what that teacher said to me," he added.
The statement detailed that everyone in the class, including another teacher, witnessed the conversation transpire. Zubi also added that the teacher later came up to him and said: "I didn't mean it like that."
In a statement, the Ridgefield school district stated that it has "absolutely no tolerance for any sort of discrimination against any student or staff member."
"The district strives to create an inclusive environment where students' and staff members' race, religion, national origin and sexual orientation are embraced," the statement continued.
"While the district cannot legally comment on personnel or student matters, the public should be aware that the district immediately suspended the staff member while it is conducting a full investigation."
They then said that they are planning to "pursue any and all legal remedies against the staff member as any discriminatory conduct has absolutely no place in our district."
CAIR-NJ responded to the statement, saying that they are pleased that a police investigation is being conducted, and urged the school to take "appropriate corrective measures".
"We are very concerned about these allegations and urge the school district to take appropriate corrective measures following a swift and transparent investigation," CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut replied, per NJ.com.
"This type of insensitive language by an authority figure is unacceptable because it perpetuates stereotypes of Arabs and Muslims."
Maskut added that they are offering the establishment diversity training for its teachers and staff in an effort to stamp out Islamophobia.