HDSB staffer under investigation after keffiyeh incident

A Halton District School Board staffer is on home assignment and is now under investigation after using "harmful and discriminatory anti-Palestinian racist language toward a student" who was wearing a keffiyeh, school officials say.

The staff member, who works at Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville, was caught on camera speaking with the student in a video shared online by the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada over the weekend.

In the video, a woman is seen telling a student "I want you to be careful so you don't get judged by that," and says the checkered scarf typically worn in Arab cultures which has come to symbolize solidarity with Palestinians reminds her of Hamas.

"But I didn't call you a terrorist," she said, adding that she also didn't treat him that way.

"Oh OK, so I'm not a terrorist and you don't treat me like a terrorist, but I look like one?" the student responds.

In a message sent to students, their families and staff on Sunday, Iroquois Ridge Principal John Stieva said the incident happened in the school's office last Friday.

"We are deeply concerned by this and share our community's concerns that this behaviour is harmful and unacceptable," Stieva wrote. "Anti-Palestinian racism, and racism in any form, is not tolerated at our school. Iroquois Ridge HS, along with all schools in the Halton District School Board (HDSB), strongly condemns this behaviour and are committed to upholding the Human Rights Code."

Stieva said the staff member in the video has been senthome pending a board investigation into the incident. He also said school officials will be reviewing their expectations with all staffers.

"This incident highlights that as staff and school leaders, we need to deepen our learning and understanding of racism and discrimination," he said. "We strive to create a space at our school where all students feel safe, welcomed and valued."

WATCH | Ontario's politicalkeffiyeh debate:

Keffiyeh is 'cultural attire,' not a political statement, says Ont. NDP leader | Power & Politics

6 months ago

Duration 15:21

Speaker of the Ontario Legislature Ted Arnott banned the wearing of keffiyehs in the chamber. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles put forward a motion to reverse the ban and says the keffiyeh is 'cultural attire,' not a political statement. But despite support from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the motion failed because it did not receive unanimous consent.

Keffiyehs have become somewhat of a political flashpoint in Ontario in recent weeks, with debates raging at Queen's Park after Speaker Ted Arnott banned the scarf in March, saying it was being worn to make a political statement, contrary to the rules of the assembly.

The scarves have often been worn at pro-Palestinian rallies in Toronto, which have been commonplace since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack against Israel, and Israel's subsequent heavy air bombardments and full-scale invasion of Gaza.

All four party leaders, including Premier Doug Ford, have called on the speaker to reverse the ban. However, two unanimous consent motions that would have lifted the ban have failed, with some MPPs still voting against them.