#IStandWithAhmed

A few weeks ago, in a high school in Irving, Texas, a 14 year-old student named Ahmed Mohammed was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school that administrators believed looked like a bomb. Since the arrest, the question that’s had the media buzzing was: was Ahmed’s arrest a result of  inveterate racism? Some argue that Ahmed’s arrest was unrelated to anti-islam beliefs, but the fact that Ahmed, a young muslim boy, was suspected of bringing something like a bomb to school, is too much of a coincidence to disregard. The ugly truth is that, since the tragic events of September 11, America’s perception of Muslims has been dramatically shaped to the point where Islamophobia is beginning to be ingrained into our society. Contrary to popular belief, Islam is a peaceful and embracing religion, and it is important to remember that groups like ISIS do not define Islam or its virtues. For Ahmed’s case, the fact that he was punished because he tried to express his creativity is appalling, and goes against the provisions of the American school system. Since when did creativity become synonymous with danger or terrorism? Students should be educated about Islamic religion at an earlier stage because education spawns awareness, and awareness spawns acceptance. Ahmed’s arrest was clearly a result of anti-Islam belief, and his case is one of many Muslims around the world, who face this reality as well.

I stand with Ahmed.