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St. Pete Police Deal With 2 Stories In Muslim Girl's Case

PAUL LAMISON / News Channel 8

At a news conference Monday, the 11-year-old girl, Hannah, told reporters she was afraid to go to back to school after a boy pulled off her hijab, an Islamic head scarf, and the next day threatened kill her.

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By Mark Douglas of News Channel 8

Published: November 13, 2007

Previous Coverage: CAIR Wants Threat Addressed

When asked Friday by an assistant principal, a sixth-grade Azalea Middle School student denied being told by a classmate that he would bring a gun and kill her, according to a St. Petersburg Police Department report.

At a news conference Monday, the 11-year-old girl, Hannah, told reporters she was afraid to go to back to school after a boy pulled off her hijab, an Islamic head scarf, and the next day threatened kill her.

Hannah, her parents, and Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ahmed Bedier said administrators never questioned the girl about a threat last week.

Police spokesman Bill Proffitt said the preliminary report states that Hannah was questioned by an assistant principal Friday morning and said she was not threatened.

School administrators say the threat reported Thursday by Hannah's parents involved a BB gun and that the boy's parents said he does not own one, Proffitt said.

Police generally get involved whenever there is a gun incident at a school, but it can go either way when the incident involves a BB gun, Proffitt said.

Today, Bedier said the girl doesn't know the difference between a BB gun and a gun. He also said Hannah stood by the story she told him and the media.

Bedier said the boy didn't say anything against Muslims, so there's no way yet to know whether the harassment was directed at Hannah solely because of her religion. He said Hannah is the only girl in the school who wears a hijab.

Proffitt could not explain why the school resource officer was not notified until Monday.

Police hoped to question the girl this morning and close the gap between what she and school administrators have said.

The preliminary report will not be a public record unless this becomes a criminal matter.

Reporter Mark Douglas can be reached at mdouglas@wfla.com or (727) 536-8443. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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