Following viral social media video

Diyala education officials launches investigation into alleged bullying of disabled student

DIYALA — The Diyala Education Directorate launched an investigation Tuesday into allegations that the head of an exam center at Al-Ma’arif High School for Boys in Baqubah verbally bullied a disabled student, according to an official statement.

A video circulating on Iraqi social media appears to show student Mohammed Taha Masoud, who uses a wheelchair, describing his experience at the exam center. He says he arrived 10 minutes late, and the manager initially refused him entry. After the student’s father pleaded on his behalf, the manager allowed him inside, where the manager allegedly stated, “You, in your wheelchair, think you can be a minister? You want to take [Prime Minister] Al-Sudani’s place?”

The directorate’s media office said, “In response to a video circulating on Facebook, in which a student with disabilities participating in the external preparatory exams claims he was verbally bullied by the head of the exam center located in Baqubah’s Al-Mustafa neighborhood (Al-Ma’arif High School for Boys), the general director, Mr. Amer Shehab Al-Azzawi, has ordered the formation of an urgent investigative committee to review the incident shown in the video.”

Deputy Minister Hussein Sabri Al-Lami and Al-Azzawi visited the center Tuesday morning to assess exam progress. “They also met with the center’s director, supervisor, and educational staff, listening to their perspectives regarding what was presented in the video,” the statement said.

Al-Azzawi stressed the importance of recognizing the humanitarian aspect of education and supporting students with disabilities: “We highly appreciate the dedication of our educational staff and their parental, compassionate approach, which ensures the spirit of the law is applied in the best possible way,” he said.