The family of a Muslim boy who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school filed a federal lawsuit Monday against Texas school officials and others, saying the incident violated the 14-year-old boy\u2019s civil rights, prompted death threats and forced them to leave the United States.
\nThe lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ahmed Mohamed, who was arrested at his suburban Dallas high school in September and charged with having a hoax bomb. He says he brought the homemade digital clock to school to show his English teacher.
\nAhmed showed off the clock, made out of a plastic pencil box and electrical wire and other hardware salvaged from his parents\u2019 garage, on Monday during a news conference with his parents and attorneys.
\nIrving police later dropped the charge, but he was still suspended for three days. He never returned to the school; his family opted to have him take classes elsewhere.
\nThe lawsuit names Irving Independent School District, the city of Irving and the school\u2019s principal, and asks a jury to determine the damages. In November, the family asked the district and city to pay $15 million or else face a suit. District spokeswoman Lesley Weaver said in a statement Monday that attorneys for the district will review the suit and determine a course of action.
\n\u201cIrving ISD continues to deny violating the student\u2019s rights and will respond to claims in accordance with court rules,\u201d she said, adding that school officials for now will have no further comment.
\nThe Mohamed family questioned whether the boy was mistreated due to his religion but the district has denied the claim.
\nThe family has since moved to Qatar, citing threats and a scholarship offered to Ahmed in the Persian Gulf country. Ahmed moved back to the U.S. last month for the summer to visit family and friends, and will do some traveling around the country, but will return to Qatar next month to start 10th grade at Qatar Academy, a private school in Doha.
\n\u201cFor the safety of my family, I have to go back to Qatar, because right now it\u2019s not very safe for my family or for anyone who\u2019s a minority,\u201d Ahmed said during Monday\u2019s news conference.
\nWhile in Texas, Ahmed said, he has to wear a hat, sunglasses and a hoody. \u201cI can\u2019t walk out of the house without being covered up because I might get shot because that happens here,\u201d he said.
\nThe teen\u2019s parents, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed and Muna Ibrahim, have not found work yet in Qatar, so the family of eight is living in government housing and on food vouchers.
\nAmong the claims made in the suit, which was brought by the teen\u2019s father, is that the boy\u2019s right to equal protection under the law was violated and that officers arrested him without probable cause.
\nAhmed was a victim of systemic discrimination by the school district and state Board of Education that has marginalized Muslims and other minority groups, the suit claims.
\n\u201cHistory tells us that when we have stood tall and proud for equality and freedom, we have grown as a nation,\u201d the suit says. \u201cWhen we have given in to fear and hate, we flounder.\u201d
\nThe suit adds, \u201cIn the case of Ahmed Mohamed, we have the opportunity to take a stand for equality and for justice, two things that should prevail above all else.\u201d
\nThe Irving school district is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice over an alleged pattern of discrimination against minority students.
\nThe district in February sued the Texas Attorney General to keep the justice department\u2019s investigation private.
\nAhmed\u2019s story brought an outpouring of support from President Barack Obama, other political leaders, corporate executives and NASA scientists.
\n\u201cWhen I went to the new school, they asked me, \u2018are you that clock kid?\u2019 I told them yeah, I was. My identity was stripped,\u201d Ahmed said.<\/p>\n
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