Family of Muslim teen arrested for homemade clock files suit

[webfact]

Family of Muslim teen arrested for homemade clock files suit

By EMILY SCHMALL

 

DALLAS (AP) — 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's civil rights, prompted death threats and forced them to leave the United States.

 

The 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.

 

Ahmed showed off the clock, made out of a plastic pencil box and electrical wire and other hardware salvaged from his parents' garage, on Monday during a news conference with his parents and attorneys.

 

Irving 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.

 

The lawsuit names Irving Independent School District, the city of Irving and the school's 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.

 

"Irving ISD continues to deny violating the student's rights and will respond to claims in accordance with court rules," she said, adding that school officials for now will have no further comment.

 

The Mohamed family questioned whether the boy was mistreated due to his religion but the district has denied the claim.

 

The 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.

 

"For the safety of my family, I have to go back to Qatar, because right now it's not very safe for my family or for anyone who's a minority," Ahmed said during Monday's news conference.

 

While in Texas, Ahmed said, he has to wear a hat, sunglasses and a hoody. "I can't walk out of the house without being covered up because I might get shot because that happens here," he said.

 

The teen's 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, Mohamed told The Associated Press on Monday.

 

Among the claims made in the suit, which was brought by the teen's father, is that the boy's right to equal protection under the law was violated and that officers arrested him without probable cause.

 

Ahmed 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.

 

"History tells us that when we have stood tall and proud for equality and freedom, we have grown as a nation," the suit says. "When we have given in to fear and hate, we flounder."

 

The suit adds, "In 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."

 

The Irving school district is also under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice over an alleged pattern of discrimination against minority students, according to Justice spokeswoman Rebecca Stewart.

 

The district in February sued the Texas Attorney General to keep the justice department's investigation private, said Ahmed's attorney, Susan Hutchison.

 

Ahmed's story brought an outpouring of support from President Barack Obama, other political leaders, corporate executives and NASA scientists.

 

"When I went to the new school, they asked me, 'are you that clock kid?' I told them yeah, I was. My identity was stripped," Ahmed said.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-09

[Steely Dan]

And to think the little boy with the insane father was actually invited to the White House. It kind of illustrates how such deference leads to the next logical step - Litigation jihad.

P.S you have to admire their chutzpah though as the Islamic world continues to cleanse itself of non-Muslims at breakneck speed.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[Boon Mee]

Clock Boy needs to be sued in that we have to hear his ridiculous story again. 

[thai3]

It's not about the money then!

[ezzra]

I would too, sue for every penny I can get and milk this cow for ever more and why not?

after all, the president of the US is siding with me, who'd dare argue with that?

this is a little Muslim boy who play the suing games with his host country to perfection....

After all, America is the land of opportunity isn't?......

[nottocus]

Maybe th government can pay him a ransom to drop the lawsuit.

[ClutchClark]

$15 Million.

 

Jesus.

 

So the father swears his life is in danger because he is a minority yet the son has returned to the US this past summer alone to visit friends.

 

And obama made this kid into a poster child.

 

 

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"When I went to the new school, they asked me, 'are you that clock kid?' I told them yeah, I was. My identity was stripped," Ahmed said.

Can you say that in Arabic, Ahmed?

[Andaman Al]

The entire family should be sued out of existence by the state education authority.

 

 

 

 

[MaxYakov]

These people are entrepreneurial geniuses - parlaying a worthless, obsolete digital clock PC card components into $15 million (or at least attempting to do so).

 

It is an embarrassment that this thing got beyond: "Ok, Ahmed, that's nice. Now close it up and put it over by the coat rack until class is over."

Edited August 9, 2016 by MaxYakov
Minor tweak.

[tomwct]

Who cares!

[ClutchClark]

America...where everyone but white males are victims.

[HooHaa]

6 hours ago, Steely Dan said:

And to think the little boy with the insane father was actually invited to the White House. It kind of illustrates how such deference leads to the next logical step - Litigation jihad.

P.S you have to admire their chutzpah though as the Islamic world continues to cleanse itself of non-Muslims at breakneck speed.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

 

litigation jihad, you must be proud to have coined that phrase - or in the long distinguished tradition of bigots everywhere have you just borrowed the phrase.

 

[Emster23]

He didn't make the clock, he just transferred the guts into a different container. He knew exactly what he was doing, setting this up for a law suit. I think open carry law doesn't apply to what appears at first to be a bomb.

[Jingthing]

He has every right to file his lawsuit. If it's frivolous, which it may indeed be (I don't know, do you?) then hopefully the justice system will smoke him out.

 

Next ... 

[DLang]

Is The clock for sale on Ebay yet?

[MaxYakov]

3 minutes ago, DLang said:

Is The clock for sale on Ebay yet?

 

It will be after their lawsuit is thrown out of court.

 

Buy It Now: $15,00,000

[Jonmarleesco]

'In November, the family asked the district and city to pay $15 million  ... ... Among the claims made in the suit, which was brought by the teen's father, is that the boy's right to equal protection under the law was violated ...'

 

Well, $15M would certainly make everything equal.

[JetsetBkk]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

forced them to leave the United States.

 

[ilostmypassword]

10 hours ago, ezzra said:

I would too, sue for every penny I can get and milk this cow for ever more and why not?

after all, the president of the US is siding with me, who'd dare argue with that?

this is a little Muslim boy who play the suing games with his host country to perfection....

After all, America is the land of opportunity isn't?......

His "host country"?  Does that mean you believe that Ahmed Mohammed is a guest of the United States?

[shirtless]

The father has a history of litigation , this was a planned event, for the sole purpose of  financial enrichment without working ,  

[harrry]

One thing if Trump gets elected the family will find themselves on a No Fly list once they go Oman..

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, harrry said:

One thing if Trump gets elected the family will find themselves on a No Fly list once they go Oman..

I wouldn't put it past him.

[Scott]

I don't think anyone can unilaterally put someone on the No Fly List, not even the President.

[harrry]

8 minutes ago, Scott said:

I don't think anyone can unilaterally put someone on the No Fly List, not even the President.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/terrorist-watch-list_n_5617599.html

 

maybe

[ilostmypassword]

12 minutes ago, Scott said:

I don't think anyone can unilaterally put someone on the No Fly List, not even the President.

3. Or somebody else could just think you’re a potential terror threat.

The guidelines also consider the use of “walk-in” or “write-in” information about potential candidates for the watch list. Nominators are encouraged not to dismiss such tips and, after evaluating “the credibility of the source,” could opt to nominate you to the watch list.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/terrorist-watch-list_n_5617599.html

All it would take would be a call from the President's office.

[Dagnabbit]

14 hours ago, Jingthing said:

He has every right to file his lawsuit. If it's frivolous, which it may indeed be (I don't know, do you?) then hopefully the justice system will smoke him out.

 

Next ... 

 

Filing the case is a money grab and will cost the schools money that would be better spent on educating children.

 

 

[katana]