New Jersey Teacher Says She Was Fired After Showing A Video Of Malala

Oct 28, 2026

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A New Jersey public high school teacher filed a lawsuit alleging she was dismissed because she is a Muslim American of Palestinian descent. The complaint states she was targeted after showing students a video about Malala Yousafzai, and later after assigning an essay prompt referencing Osama bin Laden. The suit also claims directives not to mention Islam or the Middle East. The superintendent denies the allegations and says the district will defend in court.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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New Jersey teacher lawsuit

Allegations and timeline

Response from the school district

Community support and social media

# New Jersey Teacher Says She Was Fired After ShowingA Video Of Malala She says she felt singled out by the school administration for her religion andethnicity. 12/18/201503:23 pm ET|Updated Feb 12,2016 Nadya Agrawal Editorial Fellow,The Huffington Post Supercharge your savings.Earn 1.75%*interest on new depositsinto select accounts for a limited time.Learn more▶ Bankingthat fitsConditions apply.your life. AdChoices FOLLOW HUFFPOST fHuffPostf LikePoliticsf Like DAVID M.BENETT VIA GETTY IMAGES A New Jersey public high school teacher has filed a lawsuit against her formerschool and some of its administrators claiming that she was let go from her job forbeing a Muslim American of Palestinian descent. Sireen Hashem said in the suit that she repeatedly felt targeted by the HUFFPOST NEWSLETTERS Get top stories and blog posts emailed to me each day.Newsletters may offer personalized content oradvertisements.Learn More.address@email.comSubscribe! SUGGESTED FOR YOU Comedian Gilbert Gottfried:Trump Is'Hitler Without The Warmth' Jurnee Smollett-Bell Reveals HerBrother Jussie Can Burp This ClassicSong Holly Robinson Peete Opens Up AboutParenting A Son With Autism Tyga Groped Kylie In The Club Like NoOne Was Snapchatting Ellen Page:Coming Out Is 'The Best Decision I've Personally Ever Made' Shirley MacLaine Reveals TheShocking Reason Her Marriage Lasted Gwyneth Paltrow Looks Amazing InThe Bodysuit Of Your Nlghtmares After Woman Paid For Man's Groceries,He Thanked Her With $10,000 Donation Donald Trump Loses Long-Held LeadIn The Polls Morning Blow-Back:Watch JoeScarborough Call Trump KKKComments 'Disqualifying' Speed up your savings.Earn 1.75%*interest on new depositsinto select accounts for a limited time.Tell me more▶ 1.75Bankingthat fitsConditions apply.your life. AdChoices administration at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in Flemington,N.J.,forher religion and ethnicity. Hashem said that while training for her teaching position in 2013,she sat in on theclass of a non-Muslim colleague who showed her students a video about NobelPeace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai.That day,Hashem screened the same filmfor her class,according to the lawsuit. Eleven days later,Hashem said,she was called into a meeting with her departmentsupervisor,Robert Zywicki,who informed her that school Principal Susan Cooleyhad received complaints from parents about the video. “Zywicki told [Hashem]that she could not teach current events in the same manneras her non-Arab,non-Palestinian and non-Muslim colleagues,"the complaint said. According to the lawsuit,a parent also complained several months later afterHashem assigned students a common standardized essay question that referencedOsama bin Laden. Hashem says that Cooley told her that"she should not mention Islam or the MiddleEast in her class”and that she "should not bring her culture,life experience orbackground into the classroom."She also said in the lawsuit that she was lateraccused of anti-Semitism and was told that she "caused trouble since she wasPalestinian.” In mid-April,Hashem was told that the school wouldn't be renewing her contract,the lawsuit says.She is asking the school to reinstate her and is seeking damages. Superintendent Christina Steffner denies Hashem's claims and says that she andthe district will fight the lawsuit. "I have never made a personnel decision based on any improper purpose,"shesaid in a statement."The statements attributed to me are factually wrong,and mayeven be defamatory.It is unfortunate that the district and I will have to defend thiscase,but will do so vigorously,so that the real facts may be presented in court." Omar Mohammedi,Hashem's attorney,told the Daily Beast that Hashem has beenhaving a difficult time. “She is crying all the time,"Mohammedi said."She is really hurt emotionally.It hasnot been easy." Meanwhile,many people have come forward in support of Hashem.As many as 60 students

FAQs

What does the teacher allege happened to her?

She alleges she was dismissed from her job due to her religion and ethnicity as a Muslim American of Palestinian descent.

Why was the video of Malala mentioned in the lawsuit?

The teacher says she showed the same Malala-related film after training in 2013, and that complaints led to a meeting shortly afterward.

How does the school district respond to the claims?

The superintendent denies the allegations and says the district will fight the lawsuit, asserting there was no improper purpose behind any personnel decisions.

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by Franzy