Student Sues High School for Being Called "Bin Laden"

[Mentor B]

TALE OF 2 OSAMAS
S.I. TEEN SUES OVER HS 'TAUNTS'
By STEFANIE COHEN
BIN LADEN
June 11, 2007 -- It's not easy being Osama.

For a Staten Island teenager, it has meant torment at the hands of his teachers and classmates - some repeatedly referring to him as "bin Laden."

"I thought you were in the back of a cave somewhere," a gym teacher at Tottenville HS once said to Osama Al-Najjar (photo right) during roll call, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court claiming racial and religious discrimination.

When Al-Najjar, 16, enrolled in the prestigious school three years ago, he was an honors student with a "peaceful" demeanor, said his mother, Suad Abuhasna.

But when his ninth-grade math teacher started calling the Muslim teen of Palestinian descent "bin Laden" - and a security guard told him "we don't want bin Laden's son in our school" - his cheery outlook began to change, she said.

When she asked him what was wrong, Osama said his teachers thought he was a terrorist.

Abuhasna alerted school officials, but they ignored her, she said, and things got worse.

His new math teacher, "Ms. Isola," said he might as well stop coming to class because he would never pass, the suit says. She refused to call on him, and always referred to him as "bin Laden," the court papers say.

Osama was beaten up at school by two students, and an assistant principal told Abuhasna to put her son in an Islamic school, the suit states.

A spokesperson for city Department of Education declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

In March 2006, Osama cut out of school and disappeared.

Then, in July, while talking to his mom, he suddenly broke a CD and began slicing at his wrist. While his mother called a psychiatrist, Osama tied a cord around his neck and threatened to kill himself, the suit says.

"It's not only terrible to see your baby going through this," said his mother, "It's also the guilt you feel because I gave him that name and I chose that school."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/0611200...e_of_2_osamas_regionalnews_stefanie_cohen.htm

 

[femmenoire]

That's sad.


But doesn't Bin Laden have a niece that's a model going through the same ordeal?

 

[Mentor B]

Yeah...but this kid's situation is far worse...I mean, I would expect such behavior from the student's peers...especially by him being located in N.Y...but not the teachers...

 

[femmenoire]

Holy hell. She looks just like the dude being teased!

But I agree, faculty should not engage in that kind of behavior. It's inexcusable.

 

[FOSHOO45]

Holy hell. She looks just like the dude being teased!

But I agree, faculty should not engage in that kind of behavior. It's inexcusable.

but that still does not excuse the fact that they were treating him wrong at all.But maybe he should go to a Muslim school now because it's only gonna get worse.And maybe change his name because he may never get any higher education or a job because of that name

 

[The Black HHH]

Hopefully he can sue the pants off that school and make enough money to not have to worry about getting a job.

 

[Mentor B]

^^My thoughts exactly

 

[Lucient]

He will win that lawsuit hands down. Or settle out of court for an undisclosed amount

 

[water]

Yeah...but this kid's situation is far worse...I mean, I would expect such behavior from the student's peers...especially by him being located in N.Y...but not the teachers...

Land of the free..............

Best country in the world!!!!!

s/k

 

[THA ILLEST]

He will win that lawsuit hands down. Or settle out of court for an undisclosed amount

Maaaaan, he aint gonna Win nothin', besides gettin clowned more, since his pic is all of over the internet.


I hate lil punks like that, someone calls you a name you dont like. They get S.O.S. (Snuffed on Site.)

 

[ghoststrike]

^^^such a defeatist attitude. Would you cats have such an apathetic outlook if your next of kin were racially / religiously discriminated against by both faculty and students?

 

[hanginbals]

TALE OF 2 OSAMAS
S.I. TEEN SUES OVER HS 'TAUNTS'
By STEFANIE COHEN
BIN LADEN
June 11, 2007 -- It's not easy being Osama.

For a Staten Island teenager, it has meant torment at the hands of his teachers and classmates - some repeatedly referring to him as "bin Laden."

"I thought you were in the back of a cave somewhere," a gym teacher at Tottenville HS once said to Osama Al-Najjar (photo right) during roll call, according to a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court claiming racial and religious discrimination.

When Al-Najjar, 16, enrolled in the prestigious school three years ago, he was an honors student with a "peaceful" demeanor, said his mother, Suad Abuhasna.

But when his ninth-grade math teacher started calling the Muslim teen of Palestinian descent "bin Laden" - and a security guard told him "we don't want bin Laden's son in our school" - his cheery outlook began to change, she said.

When she asked him what was wrong, Osama said his teachers thought he was a terrorist.

Abuhasna alerted school officials, but they ignored her, she said, and things got worse.

His new math teacher, "Ms. Isola," said he might as well stop coming to class because he would never pass, the suit says. She refused to call on him, and always referred to him as "bin Laden," the court papers say.

Osama was beaten up at school by two students, and an assistant principal told Abuhasna to put her son in an Islamic school, the suit states.

A spokesperson for city Department of Education declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

In March 2006, Osama cut out of school and disappeared.

Then, in July, while talking to his mom, he suddenly broke a CD and began slicing at his wrist. While his mother called a psychiatrist, Osama tied a cord around his neck and threatened to kill himself, the suit says.

"It's not only terrible to see your baby going through this," said his mother, "It's also the guilt you feel because I gave him that name and I chose that school."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/0611200...e_of_2_osamas_regionalnews_stefanie_cohen.htm

Only in N.Y

 

[elchoccolatte]

Shit is fucked up, gonnna be paid though!!!

 

[Autobot8655]

This situation is bullshit and is one of many reasons why our educational system is a piece of shit.

Staff...calling a student Bin Laden?

There just HAS to be more to this story....

 

[Tazirai]

Yeah...but this kid's situation is far worse...I mean, I would expect such behavior from the student's peers...especially by him being located in N.Y...but not the teachers...

I agree .. as much of a distaste I have in my mouth.. for a ceratin group right now. What they are doin to that kid is just wrong.