Ahmed Mohamed, 14, showing schematics for clock he was detained over.
A high school freshman was arrested by police in Texas after a homemade clock he brought to school was mistaken for a bomb.
Mohamed, an engineering student who has won awards for his inventions, created the clock over the weekend, and brought it to school to show his engineering instructor.
Authorities were alerted after a teacher became suspicious of the device. Police detained and questioned the teenager, who identifies as Muslim. No charges were filed, and Ahmed was released to his parents.
In addition to the detainment, Mohamed was also disciplined with a three day suspension.
The Dallas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Ahmed was targeted and disciplined harshly because of his religious and racial identity.
There was a strong reaction on social media that agreed with the CAIR.
White kids walk in public with weapons, brown kids are arrested for building clocks. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/DmgXjEexDF
— Aindiachaí hÉireann (@Irish_Atheist) September 16, 2015
One made a clock and one murdered nine black people…guess which one is labeled ‘terrorist’ #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/Lgv2ZVtolA
— Shady Music Facts (@musicnews_shade) September 16, 2015
#IStandWithAhmed if seeing a child in handcuffs for making a clock doesnt make you feel awful. There is something extremely wrong
— Bitter Chocolate Man (@ILLCapitano94) September 16, 2015
