WOODLAND PARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A former trooper is suing the New Jersey State Police for alleged harassment over his Muslim faith and Egyptian heritage.
Ahmed Abdalla, a 30-year-old from Woodland Park, claims he faced racist remarks, was pepper sprayed twice during training, was given bad assignments and then was fired due to the bigoted attitudes of his former co-workers and bosses.
Abdalla is asserting the alleged harassment broke state discrimination laws and caused emotional distress. He’s suing for damages, back pay, benefits and legal costs.
The suit, which was filed Tuesday in Bergen Superior Court, cited racist comments like “Who wants to ride with a terrorist?” made by Abdalla’s colleagues and claims the discrimination he faced was “severe, pervasive and continuous.”
A sergeant at the academy told Abdalla he only made it in “because you’re brown and Muslim,” according to the lawsuit.
Abdalla, whose religion dictates he pray five times a day, says he was forced to pray in his car due to the hostile work environment.
One time, he says he was reprimanded for a photograph of him praying in uniform during a holiday.
Abdalla was fired in March of 2021 after five years on the force. The department fired him for an off-duty car accident that didn’t involve alcohol or drugs, according to his attorney Evan L. Goldman.
The suit claims other officers kept their jobs for similar or worse infractions.
The NJSP could not be reached for comment.
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