Edison Assistant Principal Accused Of Intimidating Muslim Students

EDISON, NJ — Students from Edison High School have alleged that an assistant principal threatened retaliation against them after they requested permission to host a joint Ramadaan Iftaar with other school districts.

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) said Assistant Principal Nicole Himmelstein intimidated members of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) when the group requested to host a joint Ramadan iftar event with area schools earlier this year.

Members of the MSA met with Himmelstein on Feb. 29 to discuss their annual Ramadan iftar event.

According to CAIR Himmelstein barred MSA board members from inviting high school students from nearby Piscataway and North Brunswick, despite hosting similar joint iftar events during Ramadan in the past.

Citing security concerns, Himmelstein allegedly told MSA students they could either host the event only for Edison students or not do it at all, according to MSA students.

CAIR obtained an audio recording of the meeting and confirmed the authenticity of the meeting and speakers.

“I have no problem contacting your university where you got in and explaining what’s going on if you want to take it further,” Himmelstein allegedly said in the audio recording.

“You guys are not upholding good leadership skills, and I don’t think any university would want to have students who don’t fulfill good character and values. Do we understand?” Himmelstein is heard saying.

MSA members then contacted CAIR-NJ for support and assistance. The students feared retaliation by the assistant principal. One MSA board member told CAIR-NJ they were concerned and afraid the assistant principal would disband the MSA altogether.

“I felt discriminated against, and the board felt afraid as well because it felt like she was threatening our college acceptances after we worked hard for four years,” Taha Shaikh, former president of MSA at Edison High School, said in a statement.

“I felt she was trying to bully us into not hosting the joint event, even though other school clubs have been allowed to invite outside students to their events.”

CAIR-NJ said that students expressed how the joint iftar event between high schools near Edison helps them build, cultivate and maintain a sense of community and belonging.

“It’s disheartening and extremely alarming to see a school official who is supposed to lead by example allegedly use her position of power to threaten Muslim students over an event aimed at nurturing their relationship and growing their community,” CAIR-NJ Interim Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi said in a statement.

“CAIR-NJ calls on the Edison Board of Education to review this matter and treat it seriously so that other students aren’t subjected to this type of vindictive behavior and bullying.”

Meanwhile, officials at the school district have promised a thorough investigation into the matter.

“I personally take the issue seriously and I have spoken with our Superintendent Dr. Aldarelli to perform a thorough review of the matter so that there is a right outcome of the situation at hand,” Board of Education president Biral Patel said.

Patch has reached out to Edison School District Superintendent Edward Aldarelli for comment.

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