Muslim special needs student's father says teacher called police on boy

PEARLAND, Texas (FOX 26) - “Mohammad was born with Down Syndrome chromosome 21,” said his father Maher Suleiman.

The 6-year-old boy also has intellectual difficulties and doesn’t speak.

“He needs care all the time,” said Maher.

Mohammad attends C. J. Harris Elementary School in Pearland.

Maher said his son’s regular teacher left and a substitute teacher called Pearland police about his son. He also said the school told the officer that Mohammad could talk.

“It’s not true, he doesn’t speak at all,” said Maher. He also said the substitute teacher told police the boy would reportedly say "Allah" and "boom."

“She claimed he was a terrorist,” said Maher. “This is so stupid, it’s discrimination. Actually, it’s not implied discrimination, it’s actual discrimination.”

The teacher’s reported accusation against the special needs child prompted a police investigation and one by Child Protective Services as well.

“The last three to four weeks have been the hardest of my life,” said Maher. “My wife and kids were crying a few days ago and I told them everything is fine.”

“In my opinion, based on everything I heard from the police department and speaking with the administration from the school, that this was a story piece milled together by a substitute teacher alleging this child was sexually harassing her, the teacher, and possibly being a terrorist,” said community activist Quanell X. “A 6-year-old kid.”

The Pearland Police Department told FOX 26 News that they did conduct an investigation but found no need for police involvement.

CPS says its investigation remains open.

A spokesperson for the Pearland Independent School District said the district cannot release any student or personnel information due to privacy laws.

A petition now has thousands of signatures asking a Pearland school to ban the substitute teacher.