Muslim Student Reportedly Called 'Terrorist' At Apple Valley High

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) has called for an investigation into alleged use of excessive force by a security guard and resource officer at a high school in that state.

On Thursday, June 1, a female Muslim student at Apple Valley High School was reportedly verbally harassed by a male student and called an “f------ terrorist.” CAIR-MN said a school security guard then allegedly used physical force against the Muslim student. The Muslim student was later arrested, according to CAIR-MN.

In the process of her arrest, CAIR-MN claims the student's hijab was removed. The school then suspended the student. The student's suspension has since been lifted.

CAIR-MN reports it has received complaints “from a dozen Muslim students at Apple Valley High School who feel unsafe due to this and other unreported incidents involving the same officer.”

“We are concerned about the apparent use of excessive force in this incident and about the suspension of the Muslim student, who appears to have been a victim of bullying,” CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said in a statement. "We are also concerned about the growing number of Muslim students who report feeling unsafe because of how this incident was handled by the school officers." Hussein said CAIR-MN is in talks with the school about the incident.

Capt. Nick Francis, an Apple Valley police spokesman, told the Pioneer Press that they have not received a discrimination complaint or a complaint of excessive force involving its school resource or police officers. Franksi also told the newspaper that the student was removed from school because officials could not get the student to calm down.

The Star Tribune reported that Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district placed Apple Valley High School security guard Jason Rieck on leave pending an investigation of the incident.

Note: Photo is not of the Apple Valley High School student

Image via amrufm, Flickr, used under Creative Commons