School probes Muslim kindergartner's mistreatment allegation

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Charlotte, North Carolina, public school officials are investigating allegations that a teacher mistreated a 5-year-old student because he's Muslim.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Wednesday that the kindergarten teacher grabbed the student by the neck at one point and another teacher had to intervene. CAIR lawyer Maha Sayed says in a letter to school officials the teacher called him a "bad Muslim boy" multiple times.

CAIR says the student was harassed by the teacher for weeks.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Renee McCoy says the district is investigating and takes the allegations seriously.

She said she couldn't comment further on details in the letter by CAIR, partly because many employees are out for Thanksgiving.

Rebecca Garland, North Carolina's deputy superintendent of public instruction, said a state attorney is reviewing the letter.