A substitute teacher in New York's Bronx district was fired on Tuesday for ripping a hijab off of an 8-year-old student's head, Safa Alzockary, at Public School 76.

The 31-year-old substitute teacher Oghenetega Edah first told the girl to remove her hijab, then forcefully removed it after her refusal to take it off, New York Daily News reported.

The teacher also caused irritation to her right eye, with no permanent damage.

"It was scary," Safa was quoted by Daily News.

Safa's father Mohamed Alzockary said that he was shocked by his daughter's remarks.

"I didn't expect a teacher to do that to a child. She's OK right now ... but kids, they're nervous," he said.