MANILA, Philippines - Ahmed Mohamed showed creativity and in return he was arrested.
Mohamed made a handmade clock and took it to school for his engineering teacher to see, but instead of glorifying his invention, he was suspended for coming to school and was taken to police. According to reports, the clock was mistaken for a bomb.
Netizens quickly weighed in and slammed the Islamophobic double standard that the 14-year-old boy has received.
"I built the clock to impress my teacher, but when I showed it to her, she thought it was a threat to her. So it was really sad she took the wrong impression of it," Ahmed said at a news conference in front of his family's home.
The hashtag IStandWithAhmed quickly erupted in social media, with President Barack Obama and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg joining other netizens showing support for the boy.
"You've probably seen the story about Ahmed, the 14 year old student in Texas who built a clock and was arrested when he took it to school. Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed. Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I'd love to meet you. Keep building," the Facebook mogul said on his post.
In the Philippines, Twitter users also aired their opinions:
#IStandWithAhmed If a Muslim build a nuclear reactor in his backyard he will be arrested. It's a Caucasian who made it so it's "cool".
— Marco Jonathan Rossi (@majoro64) September 17, 2015 I Am amazed to see a young inventor than an adult oppressor who created nothing! #IStandWithAhmed
— Jace Tupas (@jacetupas) September 17, 2015 A genius kid like this shouldn't get arrested. Even Obama was impressed #IStandWithAhmed https://t.co/YNNpS9Hg6w
— Jardine Dane (@danebonifacio) September 17, 2015 #IStandWithAhmed reach for your dreams! Prove them wrong!
— Suzanne (@suzannecaspe) September 17, 2015 Jumping to conclusions that quick could send you crashing and burning. Building something cool should lead to applause lol #IStandWithAhmed
— JP Punzalan (@JPaulPunzalan) September 17, 2015 Remembered the film "My Name is Khan" with this incident. You the man bro! Made me one Im badly needing it. #IStandWithAhmed
— Maine ?? (@meynstream) September 17, 2015 "Don't let people change who you are" -Ahmed #IstandwithAhmed #stopracism https://t.co/TIZCC5XEXF
— KaycieGrace (@iamkayciegrace) September 17, 2015 For the thinkers, the creators, the artists, the makers #IStandWithAhmed
— Kyle (@kylemagistrado) September 17, 2015 14-year-old Ahmed built a digital clock. From scratch. And for that he was handcuffed? WTF is wrong with his school? #IStandWithAhmed
— Jego Ragragio (@raggster) September 16, 2015 So glad because of the many people supporting this bright kid. Such a shame the school officials didn't know better. #IStandWithAhmed
— Danna (@dannalovescats) September 16, 2015 Hearing your story gave me goosebumps Ahmed @IStandWithAhmed For Science and Technology! #IStandWithAhmed
— Kevin Caramancion (@kcaramancion) September 16, 2015