CMS student's hijab pulled off during altercation, police report says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The parents of an east Charlotte middle school student are outraged after their daughter's religious head scarf was ripped off by another student.

Activists said the incident highlights a bigger problem in schools.

Channel 9 obtained a copy of the police report detailing Friday’s incident at Eastway Middle School. It said it started as an altercation over a class assignment, and a student became upset during an altercation and “removed the victim’s religious head scarf from her head.”

Channel 9 contacted the school district about the incident.

A CMS spokesperson sent the following statement:

"The school is aware of a situation that occurred last Friday. There is no indication that it was related to a student's religion. It was two middle school students who were having a verbal altercation. It is our information that the father requested the police report. Any time a student violates the code of student conduct, they will be punished accordingly."

The victim's family strongly disagrees. They declined to comment publicly but said they do believe it was related to their daughter's religion. The students are in seventh grade and at that age, a girl's head scarf or hijab is considered a part of her body and is worn at all times.

Local activist Jibril Hough said the concerns should not be dismissed.

“This cannot be tolerated,” Hough said.

Hough said there have been other incidents where students feel they've been bullied over their religious beliefs, and it is time for students to be educated about different cultural and religious norms.

"It's time for CMS to get the message and if students do not understand, it’s time for them to implement plans in school where they will understand,” Hough said.

According to the police report, this is considered a non-criminal act but the report also states the student who pulled the head scarf off the girl was disciplined at school.

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