Khadiga Metwally, the mother of a convicted terrorist who planned attacks in New York City, is running for a seat on the Halton District School Board in Milton, Ontario. Her candidacy emerges in the same district that previously grappled with controversy surrounding a teacher who wore large prosthetic breasts in the classroom.
Metwally's son, Abdulrahman El-Bahnasawy, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in an ISIS-inspired plot to carry out attacks in New York City, including bombing Times Square and subway stations, and shooting at concert venues. Metwally has publicly stated her belief that her son was unfairly targeted and manipulated by the FBI and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In a 2019 interview with the Toronto Sun, she claimed he was "manipulated by FBI with the help of [Royal Canadian Mounted Police]," adding that he was "manipulated him by ‘hyper’ talking while he was manic and wasn’t under treatment."
Now seeking a role in local education policy for a district serving 68,000 students, Metwally has outlined her priorities. In a "Meet Your Candidate" Q&A, she stated her goals include fostering "safe, inclusive schools free from hate, racism, discrimination and bullying." She also emphasized the importance of timely mental health support, drawing from her personal family experiences.
Metwally has spoken with pride about her daughter's achievements, including being recognized by York University and working at the United Nations. However, she has not publicly mentioned her son's conviction and imprisonment in the United States.
The Halton District School Board gained international attention in 2022 when Kayla Lemieux, a shop teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School, began wearing exaggerated prosthetic breasts to class. The school district's initial response was to support the teacher, citing "gender rights," and the board stated they were "standing behind the teacher." Students were reportedly warned against photographing Lemieux, who was described as an "extremely effective" teacher.
Lemieux was placed on leave in the spring of 2023 after The Post published photos of the teacher without the prosthetics and wig while running errands, revealing they were not consistently worn outside of school. Lemieux later resigned from the high school and secured a teaching position at Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School in the neighboring Hamilton-Wentworth School District. Parents at the new school were alerted to potential public attention and disruptions.
It remains unclear if Lemieux is currently employed by the Hamilton-Wentworth School District. The Halton School District did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Metwally's candidacy or the broader issues raised by the Lemieux situation.