NJ Assistant Principal Allegedly Threatens Muslim Students Over Ramadan Event
The threats were reportedly made when the group requested to host a joint Ramadan iftar event with area schools earlier this year but was denied the opportunity, according to the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ).
On February 29, 2024, MSA members at Edison High School met with Assistant Principal Nicole Himmelstein to discuss their annual Ramadan iftar event. During the brief meeting, which lasted only a few minutes, MSA board members were informed they were barred from hosting the event with other schools, citing security concerns, CAIR website reported.
According to MSA members and an audio recording of the meeting, Himmelstein allegedly told them the MSA could either host an iftar event only for Edison High School students or not do it at all.
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In the recording, Himmelstein is allegedly heard threatening to take action against students if they sought outside support for the joint iftar event. "I have no problem contacting your university where you got in and explaining what’s going on if you want to take it further," Himmelstein is heard saying in what appears to be an attempt to intimidate the students.
Taha Shaikh, former president of the MSA at Edison High School, said, "I felt discriminated against, and the board felt afraid as well because it felt like she was threatening our college acceptances after we worked hard for four years. I felt she was trying to bully us into not hosting the joint event, even though other school clubs have been allowed to invite outside students to their events."
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CAIR-NJ Interim Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi stated, "CAIR-NJ heard from students who expressed how the joint iftar event between high schools near Edison is how they build, cultivate, and maintain a sense of community and belonging. It’s disheartening and extremely alarming to see a school official who is supposed to lead by example allegedly use her position of power to threaten Muslim students over an event aimed at nurturing their relationship and growing their community."
CAIR-NJ called on the Edison Board of Education to review the matter seriously to prevent other students from experiencing similar behavior.
Source: Agencies
