Notable atheist Richard Dawkins set off a Twitter firestorm Tuesday when he posted a comparison of the "Clock Kid" to an Islamic State child terrorist.
Dawkins' controversial post came after news broke that Ahmed Mohamed and his family are suing the city of Irving, Texas, and the boy's former school for $15 million over his arrest following Ahmed's decision to bring a "homemade clock" to school that resembled a bomb. Tweeting a link to an article regarding an Islamic State child terrorist executing a grown man by beheading, Dawkins said, "'But he's only a kid.' Yes, a 'kid' old enough to sue for $15M those whom he hoaxed. And how old is this 'kid'?"
"But he's only a kid." Yes, a "kid" old enough to sue for $15M those whom he hoaxed.
And how old is this "kid"? https://t.co/kjzxGDs5Az
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 24, 2015Since that initial tweet Tuesday, Dawkins has repeatedly attempted to clarify his remarks, responding to others on social media that the child terrorist and "Clock Kid" are only comparable in their age. He also said that the child terrorist was "brainwashed by adults" and that another example of the wrongness of the "only a kid" sentiment would be that of the two 10-year-old boys who tortured and then murdered 2-year-old James Bulger in England.
It's exactly like when I said I don't have to read Mein Kampf to condemn Nazism. The numpties thought I was accusing Muslims of being Nazis!
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 24, 2015Yes of course. Could it have been more obvious? Apparently it could! https://t.co/i5u8ZquIsI
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 24, 2015Exactly. Why is that so hard to understand. https://t.co/Bw3ysxLcfw
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 24, 2015The ISIS child executioner was brainwashed by adults. James Bulger's killers weren't & they were ten. "Only a kid" needs thinking about.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 25, 2015How COULD you think I was likening a hoaxer to a killer? I just meant "Only a kid" is not a knockdown defence. Remember poor James Bulger?
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 25, 2015Besides the $15 million, Mohamed's lawyers are also asking for written apologies from Irving's mayor and the city's police chief. The lawsuit demands $10 million from the City of Irving and an additional $5 million from the school district.
