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NEW YORK: A 12-year-old Muslim student with learning disabilities was forced by New York school officials to sign a false confession stating he was a “terrorist”, his family claimed in a $50 million federal lawsuit.
Nashwan Uppal, a US citizen of Pakistani background and a seventh grader at a middle school in East Islip, New York, was harassed by bullies who called him a terrorist and demanded to know what he planned to “blow up next,” according to the lawsuit.
Uppal, who did not understand what they were saying due to his disabilities, eventually responded that he would blow up the fence outside the school, the complaint said.
Following the incident, school officials yelled at Nashwan and instructed him to admit he was a member of the militant Islamic State group before forcing him to sign a false confession and searching his belongings, the lawsuit said. Police officers were also called and they searched Nashwan’s home, according to the lawsuit.
A spokesman for the East Islip Union Free School District on Long Island declined to comment on pending litigation.
Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2016
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Comments (73) Closed
Aug 18, 2016 10:10am
The only things we want to blow up are the misconceptions about us.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:11am
Xenophobia is really harmful, not only to individuals but to whole society.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:13am
Well now the family should not step back and go till end to justify his son and themselves that Muslim are not terrorists, they are forced to do.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:17am
Very nasty treatment of disabled person.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:30am
it this child can prove all what is stated above - the justice system in US is reasonably powerful - the kid would get 50M$.... even with some evils in the system - there is positive side of it as well...
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Aug 18, 2016 10:33am
Sometimes the US security forces and officials conduct the minor issues in a stupid way that caused them dearly.Not up to professional standards. Watching too much of Hollywood movies.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:37am
This is getting ridiculous. It is election year and with Trump blaming Muslims for everything, this is what it has come to now.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:41am
When people like Trump and Bush are leaders of US all this could happen. Americans see every thing but forget millions killed because of their policies in Middle east.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:41am
the civilized world imploding, the monster they created is hunting them home.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:46am
My older sister is resident in USA for 35 years and asked me to visit her, to which I flatly refused. She said she will bear my expenses, I still flatly refused. I'd rather visit Africa, a land of natural wonders, than waste my money on visiting a mentally unbalanced country that does nothing but wage war and insults. My deepest commiserations to the kid and his family. Salams
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Aug 18, 2016 10:46am
I think the law suit is what is going to bring them in senses. I can't believe I just read something like this.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:48am
Every country has right to secure their people. We can not blame when such incidents are taking place everyday. You can't rely anyone.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:53am
American justice system will deliver. Proud of America where everyone is equal. They will win the case.
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Aug 18, 2016 10:57am
@NKAli Well said...to add to it they have 20 million homeless while they spend trillions on wars...
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Aug 18, 2016 11:12am
For a moment I thought I was reading a piece of satire. Is this real?
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Aug 18, 2016 11:21am
This is because of the perception of Pakistan in western countries. But i have full faith in the american judicial system. Swift justice will be delivered.
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Aug 18, 2016 11:34am
"his family claimed in a $50 million federal lawsuit"
Only $ 50 million, it should be at least $ 100 million.
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Aug 18, 2016 11:44am
We have to deal with it and fight it but Islamophobia will not go away anytime soon. Muslim world is going through a very difficult time, there is militancy and civil war across the middle east and in Afghanistan directly or indirectly created and fueled by the West and their allies to promote their insatiable interests. Unless the West stops subjugating smaller countries, this chaos and turmoil will never end and monsters like ISIS, Taliban etc will keep breeding to threaten world peace and cast Muslims and Islam in bad light.
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Aug 18, 2016 11:49am
I can't imagine a 12 year old harbouring such intentions, nor can a 12 year old fully understand what a confession means. The authorities owe the child and the family an apology at the very minimum, ideally they should be fired. And I say that as an Indian.
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Aug 18, 2016 11:54am
good sue them for much as possible
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Aug 18, 2016 11:55am
Disgusting on US part.
But..... who is actually responsible??
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Aug 18, 2016 11:56am
i live in US and believe me i went through same stuff when i was teenager after 9/11, the family should sue them. Every now and than these islamophobic incidents occurs here.
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Aug 18, 2016 12:06pm
Terrible terrible ....... Tears come to my eyes at the boy's innocence and even then declaring to blow up the fence ...... still taking care to not hurt anyone. They are kids .... reflection of our screwed up mindset playing out in the school.
Irrespective of who wins the lawsuit ..... humanity lost here.
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Aug 18, 2016 12:09pm
Bullying some one to do some thing seems to be a terrorist act. Muslims all over the world being accused and bullied almost every where, even in public places, in European countries specially. There are good and bad people every where in every community, cast and race. Dragging religion and humiliating it on the bases of some outrageous ruthless criminals is very bad indeed.
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Aug 18, 2016 12:16pm
I am sure not just this child but everyone so called working for ISIS has same sort of background. ISIS is made by these superpowers and there is no reality about it.
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Aug 18, 2016 12:27pm
Of course, security has preference over religion or anything else. But is it only the security of US that is supreme? People in the Middle-East or South Asia or Africa don't deserve security?
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Aug 18, 2016 01:11pm
@Ravindran Thank you for this most humane comment.
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Aug 18, 2016 01:25pm
@Sarwar USA:
Thumbs up.
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Aug 18, 2016 01:33pm
@Muhammed Asim Rao
Hold on with your celebrations Sir. The kid hasn't got $50million yet, neither there is any form of confirmation that he will get $50million.
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Aug 18, 2016 02:04pm
it breaks my heart that this kid is disable. i work with people with disabilities and i can feel the pain of his parents. This school is horrible who think a 12 yrs old is a terrorist and signing false confession for 12 yrs. Unbelievable this is horrible and i hope the parents go all the way to sue the county the live in not just school because the school is run by the county.
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Aug 18, 2016 02:04pm
Because of few people complete community in radar of doubt.. just because people from same community not openly opposing terrorism
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Aug 18, 2016 02:07pm
Its still less amount, to stop such a fobia in USA each muslim who feel discriminated, mental torture, physiological, bodly, reputation and like wise threats should file laws suits. If this wont be enough bring International court in it. Americans must start behaving like normal humans and probably its time for them to learn certain norms of human behaviours.
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Aug 18, 2016 02:28pm
@My2Paisas I wish it was true. The number of misconceptions are many. However, start somewhere.
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Aug 18, 2016 02:33pm
its a Shame .. These American schools are going out of their minds...
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Aug 18, 2016 02:34pm
Another Humayun Khan episode in the making! It is a square slap on the face of Mr. Trump refusing to acknowledge and correct his mistakes and making mess of his presidential campaign.
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Aug 18, 2016 02:49pm
Not surprising..usa is like that..they have no regard for disables even in educational departments.
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Aug 18, 2016 03:04pm
I think such problems would drstically reduce if muslim countries like saudi, qatar , pakistan very very strongly denounce ISIS and other islamic terrorist organisation. It will make a huge difference to muslims living in western countries
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Aug 18, 2016 03:23pm
Lack of common sense and lack of SOPs on such matters cause such failures of systems and institutions.
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Aug 18, 2016 03:27pm
This is heartbreaking, parents of a abnormal child have to deal with such disgusting behavior of school.
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Aug 18, 2016 03:31pm
This is very cruel treatment from NY School authorities. Though the child is an US citizen so Pakistan cannot do much on this; but countries in the sub-continent need to act much more strongly and convey assertively that it hurts the relation. That is more the reason why India and Pakistan should work together, as most of the problems we face are same.
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Aug 18, 2016 03:41pm
Ooo. This is really nasty piece of work. May be we should ask american kids which country america plan to commit war crimes in next....that should be reasonable.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:09pm
My goodness! A disabled child is being coerced like this is really shocking and unbelievable but the brighter side of the news is that Pakistani American has instituted a law suit demanding huge money as compensation for such unwanted behavior of the school and it is very strongly believed that US justice system is true justice system which does not profess enmity or favor but the rule of law. I commend the courage of the father to take it up alike. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
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Aug 18, 2016 04:12pm
@Ankita: Shah Rukh Khan is not Pakistani, he is a bonafide Indian, what would you say about it.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:12pm
Its so weird that everybody is busy bashing USA without giving a thought that how minorities are treated back home..
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Aug 18, 2016 04:15pm
@Raja: Why have you failed to name the country that created ISIS, the countries you have named have not created ISIS and have nothing to do with it.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:18pm
@Mirza: There is only one thing that America needs to do to bring peace, security & serenity in whole of America " stop meddling in others affairs"
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Aug 18, 2016 04:20pm
@Ashok: If few peoples acquires Ebola virus you don't need to burn the entire community.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:23pm
Any parent of a child with learning disabilities (it sounds like a case of Autism) will be heartbroken. Autistic children are very innocent and bullying is a very terrifying experience for them. His response "blow up the fence" represents his confusion and imagining his innocent, and harassed face brings me almost to tears. Schools are generally meant to understand autism well, and are trained to handle it professionally. Yet, what they allegedly did, is mind boggling. All power to the parents: DO NOT STEP back now.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:24pm
@Someone: It is a win win situation for the parent of this disabled student, if the court grants compensation then it will proves the school was at fault alternatively the world will see and understand something else.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:27pm
@ali: Become a witness who himself suffered such crazy attitude in the past. Sue them if it is within the legal time frame.
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Aug 18, 2016 04:38pm
How can a 12 year old be a terrorist? He doesn't even understand the concept.
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Aug 18, 2016 05:01pm
@Zi he will learn once he grows
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Aug 18, 2016 05:15pm
All this shows is how Dumb people out there in the west really are, nothing else. God bless the kid
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Aug 18, 2016 05:34pm
Bombarding Iraq for so called nukes, hunt for one man osama whole Afghanistan paid price, Guantanamo bay famous prison of human tragedy all these are attribute of our beloved US.
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Aug 18, 2016 05:48pm
@NKAli
i am living in the US for over two decades- have minority status
best country to live in the world
If anyone is arrested - they are lucky to be in the US- The police are not corrupt, you at least get a public defender and you are safe from torture
USA is the country that makes largest donations when there is a world disaster
people are in general kind and accepting of differences
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Aug 18, 2016 05:51pm
The allegations are from one side. We should hear what the school has to say on this matter.
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Aug 18, 2016 06:38pm
Sad affair. Feel sorry for Muslims living in USA and Europe. I live in New Zealand and here we do not face any kind of harassment for being Muslims. Best place to live in the world.
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Aug 18, 2016 06:47pm
Here in the US, anything signed by a 12 year-old is null and void. If the school really made him sign such a document then they need to be educated themselves in basic US law! In any case nothing is going to come out of this.
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Aug 18, 2016 07:00pm
Its wrong and sad, however, this is a new normal, adapt !
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Aug 18, 2016 07:00pm
@NKAli Narrow thought
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Aug 18, 2016 07:06pm
@satish the US itself
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Aug 18, 2016 07:15pm
Very good! This is only way to stop these white majority schools to address the issue os Islamophobia in the schools.
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Aug 18, 2016 07:20pm
@My2Paisas Rightly said
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Aug 18, 2016 07:39pm
And on the other hand lot of Pakistanis want Trump to be the next president of US!
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Aug 18, 2016 08:08pm
US schools are very careful with disabled children. What more than likely happened, and is very sad, is that some bullies made the poor kid sign such a form. The bullies need to be punished.
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Aug 18, 2016 08:14pm
Couple of months ago a big US company offered me a job with a lot of perks. There HR tried his best to convince me to work for them but I bluntly refused there offer. This is the reason WHY. I will work where I am respected.
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Aug 18, 2016 08:31pm
@Akil Akhtar Exactly! Eyes wide open! Kudos!
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Aug 18, 2016 08:39pm
Shame on the school officials for not handling it properly. The poor kid must have been traumatized to death.
This sue is in the right place and I hope, and pray that the parents win.
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Aug 18, 2016 08:44pm
We Indians hope that now Amnesty should investigate this also and put America on notice of HR violation!
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Aug 18, 2016 08:46pm
@rashmidaarusa : Hope u have a disable child who is harassed by his / her school then you will be able to see beyond the Indian saffron tainted lense
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Aug 19, 2016 12:37am
Some one shot 2 muslims in New York. In less than 3 days, the Police have arrested and charged a man for murder. Would things happen so fast in Pakistan. Incidentally in USA the conviction rate is above 90%. So people who are charged generally get sentenced to prison.
Americans are a tolerant people, but the currently a lot of them are simply worried about terrorism.
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Aug 19, 2016 01:12am
This is atrocious, and it doesn't matter if the boy was Pakistani, Indian, American or other. Shame on the school authorities first and foremost, for letting this happen in the first place, and then the stupid follow up they did which was abominable.
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Aug 19, 2016 05:23am
This all happening because of Trump's election rhetoric against Muslims.
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