CHICAGO — An Illinois high school senior is threatening to file a discrimination lawsuit against his school district after he says a teacher told him he fit the stereotype of a terrorist and humiliated him in front of his peers.
Maysam Amanishourbariki, 17, who was born in the United States and is of Iranian heritage, claims his Italian language teacher told him last semester that he fit the stereotype of a terrorist during an exchange in class over his clothing.
“Right after she said it, one of the students – a freshman – got up and gave her a high five,” Amani told the Waukegan News-Sun. “I was like, ‘Is this kid serious?’ They treated it like a joke, but it’s not a joke.”