16-year-old Muslim student sues school after teacher told him ‘I don’t negotiate with terrorists’
A Muslim teenager is suing the Southern California school district after his teacher allegedly branded him a terrorist.
In Feb. 2025, 14-year-old Yousef Abdullah approached his teacher at Cypress High School after being rejected from the Advanced Placement English program, according to the NY Post.
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists, that is people under the age of 18,” his English teacher allegedly told the Palestinian-American freshman in response.
It was reported that a school counselor allegedly repeated the terrorist remark several times, while an assistant principal dismissed it as a joke.
Now 16, Abdullah is suing the Anaheim Union High School District, accusing officials of discrimination and failing to protect him.
“Clearly, the school’s not taking it seriously,” attorney Samer Habbas, who represents the teen, told The Orange County Register.
The district’s own investigation found evidence of a derogatory comment that violated its policy against abusive language toward students, according to a March 2025 letter from Human Resources Director Amie Maya.
The district said the matter would be handled through its confidential personnel process. Habbas said no meaningful discipline followed.
The lawsuit also alleges school employees disclosed Abdullah’s ADHD diagnosis to classmates, who subsequently mocked him as “SpEd.”
He has since transferred to another Orange County high school.
The case is before Orange County Superior Court Judge Kimberly A. Knill, who rejected the district’s attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed.
