Man accused of assaulting teenager over hijab

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A 53-year-old University of Missouri graduate teaching assistant is accused of pulling a teenage family member out of a Columbia school because she wasn't wearing a traditional headscarf worn by some Muslim women.

Youssif Omar was arrested Wednesday at his home on suspicion of felony child abuse. He was released from the Boone County Jail after posting $4,500 bond.

Police spokeswoman Latisha Stroer said officers were called to Hickman High School at 3 p.m. Tuesday after Omar became irate when he noticed a 14-year-old family member not wearing a hijab.

Stroer says Omar grabbed the girl "very violently by the air" and pulled her outside and down a flight of stairs.

Omar is a graduate teaching assistant of Arabic.