NYC teacher fired after ripping off 8-year-old's hijab

NEW YORK

A city teacher lost his job last week after forcibly removing the Islamic headcover, or hijab, from one of his students in class, according to media reports.

Oghenetega Edah, 31, who worked as a substitute teacher at PS 76 in the Bronx, told 8-year-old Safa Alzockary to remove her hijab after she reportedly misbehaved in class on May 2, according to police sources.

Edah then ripped the hijab off Alzockary's head, causing irritation to her eye, police said.

A statement by New York City Education Department spokesman Michael Aciman called the teacher's conduct “unacceptable”.

“This individual was removed from the school immediately and his employment has been terminated,” Aciman said in the statement.

Safa's father, Mohamed Alzockary, told the New York Daily News he “didn’t expect a teacher to do that to a child.

“She’s OK right now ... but kids, they’re nervous,” Alzockary said.