"They turned me into a terrorist": The teacher from Or Akiva responds to the uproar that led to a strike
Teacher Miriam Abu Bakr from Or Akiva responds to the controversy that erupted after a civics lesson in which she told students she is Muslim. Parents claimed she asked who hates Arabs and made students stand by the board, but she firmly denies this. According to her, lies were invented solely because she is Arab and Muslim, and she went from being an "educator" to a "terrorist." The strike led by parents lasted two hours, and the teacher continues to teach.
Teacher Miriam Abu Bakr (26), who began teaching at "Shirat Hayam" school in Or Akiva at the start of the year, responds to the controversy that erupted after a civics lesson. During the lesson, an open discussion was held about different citizens in the country, and Abu Bakr told students she is Muslim. Following this, parents claimed she asked students who hates Arabs and asked those who answered affirmatively to stand by the board, and that the conversation developed into dealing with terrorists and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abu Bakr firmly denies: "I never stood children by the board and asked who hates Arabs. The only thing I said is that whoever wants to share if they know different citizens is welcome." According to her, "they invented lies just because I said I am Muslim." She said that upon arriving at the school she felt threatened and entered accompanied by a security officer, and one parent called her a terrorist. "I became a terrorist just because I said I am Muslim," she said. This morning, parents suspended studies for two hours, despite management pressure. No confirmation of the parents' claims has been received, and the teacher continues to teach in classes where no complaints were made against her. Abu Bakr emphasized: "I am confident in myself as an honest teacher who respects everyone and does everything for the students - without racism and discrimination."