PHOENIX - A refugee family from Somalia claims they were forced to withdraw their two children from a Phoenix charter school after a sixth-grade teacher allegedly discriminated against one of their children because he is a Muslim immigrant.

The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education to investigate the matter.

"We do receive a number of complaints (involving schools) but this one was particularly egregious because of the way this teacher harassed our client," said ACLU attorney Heather Weaver.

The ACLU's letter to the agencies states that during the 2015-2016 school year, the sixth-grade teacher targeted the student, "making it clear she disapproved of his faith and nationality."

For example, the document states, “[a]fter showing a video clip relating to the terrorists who attacked the U.S. on September 11th… she told (the student), 'that's going to be you,' suggesting he was destined to become a terrorist."

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In another instance, the letter states, the teacher "started ranting about Donald Trump, telling (the student) in front of the entire class, 'I can't wait until Trump is elected. He's going to deport all you Muslims…"

Weaver said other students have provided their own accounts of what occurred to support the claims.

A spokesperson for Academy of Excellence public charter school in east Phoenix referred questions about the alleged mistreatment to an attorney. 12 News left messages but was unable to get into contact with the attorney Monday.

The teacher is also accused of grabbing the student by the neck as a form of discipline on one occasion and denying his request to pray during recess.

The student was "unlawfully forced" to withdraw by the teacher and a board school board member, the letter states.

Weaver suggests the issue may be a symptom of a larger problem.

"We've also seen a rise in the number of complaints across the country of children in school being targeted because they are Muslim and immigrant," she said. "A large part is due to a lot of the rhetoric we've seen across the country."

Copyright 2016 KPNX