Teacher fired after removing girl’s hijab, police say

A Bronx elementary school has fired a substitute teacher after he allegedly pulled the hijab off an 8-year-old girl’s head, the New York Post and WPIX reported.

Oghenetega Edah, 31, reportedly threatened to remove her head covering because she was sitting in the teacher’s chair without permission, police said. When she didn’t move, he allegedly took the hijab off, injuring her eye in the process.

“He said, ‘Oh, I want to see your hair,'” the girl told WPIX. “I thought he was joking.”

The girl told WPIX that the teacher “yanked” the hijab. “He pulled it so hard,” she said.

Police are investigating the incident, the Post reported.

“This alleged behavior is completely unacceptable,” said a statement from Michael Aciman, a Department of Education spokesman, according to the Post. “This individual was removed from the school immediately and his employment has been terminated.”