A Muslim educator, Shayma Alzubi, is suing Fort Worth ISD in federal court after being reassigned from her role as principal of Western Hills High School. The lawsuit, filed on June 18, alleges that the district violated Alzubi’s First Amendment guarantee of free speech and 14th Amendment equal protection rights.

Background

Alzubi, an Arab Muslim administrator of Palestinian national origin, has worked for Fort Worth ISD since 2013. She has served as a chemistry teacher, freshman success coach, and assistant principal at several high schools. In May, the district announced that Alzubi would become the principal of Western Hills High School. However, four days later, the district reassigned her pending an investigation into her past social media posts.

The posts in question included support for Palestinians, Black Lives Matter, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, and Fort Worth ISD’s mask policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another post shared a definition of Sharia law, which the complaint describes as an expression of Alzubi’s religious beliefs and an attempt to educate the public about Islam.

Lawsuit Allegations

The lawsuit alleges that the district used its social media policy as a pretext to punish protected speech. The complaint states that Alzubi’s speech was made as a private citizen on matters of public concern, not as part of her job duties. The lawsuit also alleges that the district treated Alzubi differently than other employees who posted about similar political or social issues.

Gadeir Abbas, a Council on American-Islamic Relations attorney representing Alzubi, said the lawsuit could end quickly if Fort Worth ISD restores her to the role it announced in May. Abbas pointed to the ‘heckler’s veto’ doctrine, which holds that the government cannot suppress protected speech simply because opponents object loudly enough.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.