Family of Muslim teen arrested over clock files civil rights lawsuit in Texas
DALLAS - The family of a Muslim boy who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school has sued Texas school officials, saying they violated the 14-year-old boy's civil rights.
The lawsuit was filed Monday on behalf of Ahmed Mohamed. The teen was arrested at his suburban Dallas high school in September and charged with having a hoax bomb. He says he brought the homemade clock to school to show his teacher.
The charge was later dropped, but he was still suspended.
The lawsuit names Irving Independent School District, the city of Irving and the school's principal. A district spokeswoman says the district would release a statement later Monday.
The family has since moved to Qatar, citing threats and a scholarship offered to Ahmed in the Persian Gulf country.
A law firm representing Ahmed Mohamed sent letters in November of last year demanding $10 million from the city of Irving and $5 million from the Irving Independent School District. The letters also threatened lawsuits and sought written apologies.
Mohamed was among President Obama's guests at a White House event last year featuring budding scientists, teachers and astronauts.
Afterward, the president and Mohamed chatted briefly, in an encounter that capped an amazing odyssey. Mohamed called it a short but "very long journey in the experience of learning."
"We talked about Mars and 2030 and I talked to him about the generator that I'm making and how it could help people on Mars," Mohamed said of his conversation with the president.