Muslim teacher asked to hang herself with headscarf in US

November 13, 2016

Washington, Nov 13: A 24-year-old Muslim school teacher in the US was told to hang herself with her headscarf in a handwritten anonymous note which said the scarf "isn't allowed anymore".

Mairah Teli, a teacher at Dacula High School in Gwinnett County, located outside Atlanta in Georgia, posted a picture of the note on her Facebook page last week.

"Mrs Teli, your head scarf isn't allowed anymore. Why don't you tie it around your neck and hang yourself with it," the note scribbled in black ink said, signed "America!", the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"As a Muslim, I wear a headscarf as a practice of my faith. I want to share this to raise awareness about the reality and climate of our community. Spreading hate isn't going to "make America great again," she wrote on her Facebook page.

Sloan Roach, a spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Schools, said in a statement that school officials are working to find out who wrote the note.

"We take a threat against a staff member a serious matter," Roach said.

Teli said the administration and fellow teachers were very supportive after she informed them she found the note.

It is unclear at this time whether the person who wrote it was inspired by Donald Trump's election to the presidency, but Teli's post on Facebook assumed as much.

"I feel children feel safe making comments that are racist or sexist because of him," she said.

Teli said she was shocked and disturbed but worked to be measured when she addressed class. She told the students she was happy to speak with them if there were questions about her hijab.

The incident comes amid reports from around the country about hate rising after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential polls

I'm a high school teacher and sadly this anonymous note was put in my classroom today. As a Muslim, I wear a headscarf...

Posted by Mairah Teli on Friday, November 11, 2016

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Pro-Gaza protesters in Columbia University stay put despite crackdown, intimidation

News Network

April 24,2024

Pro-Gaza US protesters in New York's Columbia University say they will stay put despite the university's harassment and police crackdown.

The protesters said they refuse to concede to "cowardly threats and blatant intimidation" by university administration, asserting that they will continue to peacefully protest.

Columbia University threatened the students with the national guard after refusing to bargain in good faith.

The university announced a midnight deadline for talks regarding the removal of pro-Palestine encampments on the varsity campus, warning that their campsite will be forcefully cleared by police if no agreement is reached.

The university campus is being used as a campsite for hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters and other activists, who have gathered and set up numerous tents.

Pro-Palestinian protests at colleges have demanded that their universities divest from corporations doing business with Israel or profiting off the war in Gaza. At Columbia, protesters have also asked the university to end a dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University.

The deadline was announced by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik late Tuesday, as authorities across major American universities have launched their repression campaigns against the pro-Palestinian protests on campuses, amid rising anger over US's support for Israel.

Shafik has issued a midnight deadline to protesters and organizers, warning that failure to comply will result in the forcible clearance of the camp by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The university has engaged in discussions with student leaders behind the protests, which are part of a series of protests taking place at various colleges nationwide and resulting in multiple arrests.

The purpose of these talks is to address the encampment on the west lawn of Columbia's Morningside Heights campus.

American universities are grappling with the challenge of maintaining a delicate balance between the right to protest and freedom of speech, while also ensuring campus rules and safety, as tensions surrounding the ongoing war in Gaza continue to permeate across campuses.

Meanwhile, Shafik underscored the importance of free speech and the right to demonstrate, but highlighted significant safety issues, disruptions to campus activities, and a strained environment due to the encampment. She firmly stated that any form of intimidation, harassment, or discrimination would not be accepted.

The arrest of more than 100 protesters at Columbia University last week led to more campus demonstrations, at New York University, Yale, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Palestinian university professor Sami al-Arian said what is happening across US university campuses is unprecedented.

Al-Arian said, "I lived four decades in the US, 28 years of which were in academic settings. During my time, it was a very challenging struggle to present an anti-Zionist narrative."

"But the passion, courage, humanity, creativity, and determination displayed these days by students across US campuses make me proud. The Zionist grip on US society is weakening and waning."

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