CAIR-NY Welcomes Hate Crime Probe of Suspects who Assaulted Muslim Woman, Shouted ‘Terrorist’ and ‘Go Back to Your Country’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(NEW YORK, NY, 12/28/2017) — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the decision of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to probe the allegedly bias-motivated attack on a Muslim woman in Brooklyn. During the attack, suspects allegedly punched, kicked, and spat on the Souad Kirama a local Muslim community activist and parent advocate. The suspects also called Kirama a “terrorist” and told her to “go back to your country.”

The attack by 10-11 teenage suspects took place Tuesday afternoon, between 4:00 and 5:00 PM, at the Panera Bread at 345 Adams Street in Brooklyn.  The matter is currently under investigation by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force. According to the victim, numerous patrons stood-by and did nothing during the attack. The victim’s Facebook Live video, which was recorded shortly after the attack, has already received more than 100,000 views.

VIDEO: https://www.facebook.com/skirama1/videos/10215074967215446/

“We are grateful that the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force has been so responsive to the Muslim community,” said CAIR-NY Legal Director Albert Fox Cahn. “It is intolerable to see so many New Yorkers do nothing in the face of this sort of hatred. At this moment, when Muslim New Yorkers are enduring a historic surge in hate crimes, we must all stand up when we see our neighbors being attacked.”

New York are asked to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-NY at (646) 665-7599, or by filing a report at: https://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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