A college professor in New Jersey was placed on unpaid suspension after posting an online photo of his 7-year-old daughter wearing a well-known "Game of Thrones" t-shirt that quote the TV show because administrators perceived it as a threat.

The shirt his young daughter is wearing in the photo reads: "I will take what is mine with fire & blood." The quote is said by the series' "mother of dragons," Daenerys Targaryen.

The photo was posted on Google+ by the Bergen Community College professor Francis Schmidt in January, around the time HBO released the trailer for Game of Thrones' fourth season, NBC New York reports.

A college dean saw the post and perceived it as a "threatening email." Schmidt was forced to meet with administrators and was placed on unpaid leave.

The dispute, which took place in January, came to the surface after "Inside Higher Ed" referred to it an online posting.

On Friday, Schmidt shared an email from the college's human resources department with NBC New York. The email was from the time of the incident.

"You are not to be on campus for any reason," the email says. "The safety of all of the members of the community is taken very seriously."

Schmidt was only allowed to return to the college after seeing a psychiatrist.

Larry Hlavenka Jr., a spokesman for the college, said in a statement that the matter was a "private personnel issue," but added that the college takes any statements that could be construed as violent threats very seriously.

"Since Jan. 1, 2014, 34 incidents of school shootings have occurred in the United States," Hlavenka said. "In following its safety and security procedures, the college investigates all situations where a member of its community - students, faculty, staff or local residents - expresses a safety or security concern."

Schmidt believes the real reason he was targeted is because he filed a complaint against the school when he was not given a requested sabbatical.

Last week, the faculty union, which is in contract negotiations with the college, cast a no-confidence vote in the college's president.