The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, located west of Toronto, suspended teacher Nadia Shoufani after she demanded support "in any form" for Palestinian efforts against Israel.
The board says Shoufani, a teacher at St. Catherine of Siena school, has been suspended with pay pending further investigation by the board.
According to the board, concerns were raised by “the community and public at large” over Shoufani’s “professional conduct.” It added that those issues have been brought to the attention of the Ontario College of Teachers for investigation and review.
The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), which is representing Shoufani during the investigation, believes the suspension is excessive.
"I want to clarify that Ms. Shoufani has not been suspended due to her personal or professional conduct, but as a result of a perceived lack of compliance with the board's investigation process," OECTA president Ann Hawkins said in an email.
The Missisauga teacher raised concerns after she made a speech at an Al-Quds Day event at Queen's Park on July 2.
"We have the right to fight back. We have the right to resist," Shoufani yelled during her speech. Shoufani also apparently criticised the detention of Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese terrorist who is imprisoned in France for killing two US and Israeli officials.
Shoufani allegedly called on the public to “support the resistance (against Israel) in any form.”