World

Obama invites arrested Muslim schoolboy to White House

Obama congratulates 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed on his skills and issues a presidential invitation

Afp September 16, 2015

The teenager was handcuffed and taken to police headquarters and was not allowed to call his parents. PHOTO: The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Wednesday invited a Muslim schoolboy to the White House after he was arrested and dragged off in handcuffs for bringing a homemade clock to class.

Obama congratulated 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed on his skills and issued a presidential invitation, in what amounts to a pointed rebuke to school and police officials who precipitated his arrest.

"Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great," the president tweeted.

Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) September 16, 2015

Read: Muslim student arrested in US after home-built clock mistaken for bomb

The teen was led out of his Texas school after a teacher mistook his homemade digital clock for a bomb, prompting accusations of Islamophobia and an online backlash.

A photo of Ahmed standing in handcuffs while wearing a t-shirt with the US space agency NASA's logo was retweeted thousands of times in a matter of hours and "#IStandWithAhmed" was the top trending hashtag on Twitter.

Among those voicing support for the boy was Hillary Clinton, who tweeted: "Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe - they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building."

Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe—they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building. https://t.co/ywrlHUw3g1
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2015

"My hobby is to invent stuff," the boy told The Dallas Morning News in a video posted on the paper's website that was filmed in his electronics-filled bedroom.

Thank you fellow supporters. We can ban together to stop this racial inequality and prevent this from happening again pic.twitter.com/fBlmckoafU
— Ahmed Mohamed (@IStandWithAhmed) September 16, 2015

"I made a clock. It was really easy. I wanted to show something small at first... they took it wrong so I was arrested for a hoax bomb."

‘I'd love to meet you’

Meanwhile, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said the future belonged to people like Ahmed.

“Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I'd love to meet you. Keep building,” he wrote in a status update on his Facebook profile.

COMMENTS (12)

Togieda Rademeyer | 9 years ago | Reply Ahmad keep up the good work. Allah has granted u a very special gift. Thank God Almighty and use your talent in the way of Allah. God bless u and your family. Keep well. Jazakallah

Khurram Khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Travis those r not handcuffed or trolled by police for that. Gesture from Obama is good n welcomed, this will definitely help to settle the unrest which is created by the "idiots". To end racism or Islam phobia or whatever phobia, bad ppl must b punished for justice.

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Hassan agha | 9 years ago | Reply Mr.president Thank you for your attention for ahmad..ahmad will contribute to world his skills in future by the help of GOD ALMIGHTY..Llike other muslim scholar's and scientists. MY RESPECT TO ALL GREAT PEOPLE OF WORLD FOR THERE CONTRIBUSTION and hard work...today we are close to each other. Hassan Agha Handmade carpet dealer. Alqaim carpets(facebook)

Travis | 9 years ago | Reply @iffat: Building a clock is "talent" ? Do you even read what children from other communities are doing?

Sarwar | 9 years ago | Reply @powvow: And, you would continue with Muslim-bashing, as usual.

iffat | 9 years ago | Reply Excellent decision taken by Obama because he support talent and know it how to use it ... Great

powvow | 9 years ago | Reply Muslims will overlook this great gesture from the US President or Zuckerberg to correct the injustice meted out, but will continue focusing on the atrocity instead

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply THIS is what makes America great! Way to go Obama, and all the others who overwhelmingly supported the kid.

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply This is not a "race" thing. It is a religion thing.

Ashraf | 9 years ago | Reply He was obviously building a prank bomb but it backfired on him.

razahaoder | 9 years ago | Reply First you portray and predict wrong and than you make sorry,Fear is no less than living a lifeless life .pity over the child who was actually shattered and torn by Insane and discourteous racioreligious police. America needs to build he4self in terms of a parent nation with attitude of mother rather a land of idiots

M S Khalid | 9 years ago | Reply People like Ahmed contribute to progress and development of human race. His arrest on the basis of mere doubts is demonstration of the western extremism.. Instead of invading other countries as justification of fighting against extremism western countries should first look into their selves and deal with extremism within thier own ranks whether it be racial profiling or islamophobia....

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