Teacher in Scarf Issue Resigns Post

Lancaster instructor had ordered Muslim student to remove her hijab or leave his class.

Hector Becerra, L. A. Times, Feb. 28

An Antelope Valley College instructor under fire for ordering a 19-year-old Muslim student to remove her head scarf in his class resigned Friday, school officials said.

Robert Daniel, an engineer who taught part time since 2002, resigned before the Lancaster school’s board of trustees could decide whether he should be fired, interim college President Jackie Fisher said.

“We could have dismissed him — that was an option — but he came in and resigned,” Fisher said.

“He will not be rehired or work here again.”

The student, Fajr Burhan, said that when she walked into Daniel’s computer information science class last week, he told her to remove her hijab or leave.

Burhan said she refused, explaining that she wore the scarf for religious reasons. After she took her seat, Burhan said, Daniel asked her to walk outside with him. They then encountered the dean, who told Daniel he had to respect Burhan’s right to wear the scarf.

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