CAIR-NY Welcomes Hate Crime Charges Against Off-Duty Cop for Assault on Muslim Driver

(NEW YORK CITY, NY, 2/2/2022) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed hate crime charges against an off-duty NYPD officer who reportedly assaulted a Muslim driver after going on an anti-Muslim and racist tirade. 

On Monday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that NYPD officer Riggs Kwong was arraigned on an indictment charging him with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime and aggravated harassment.  

The charges are in relation to an incident that occurred earlier this month, in which Kwong reportedly hurled anti-Muslim and racist slurs at a driver after being involved in a traffic incident. After yelling “terrorist,” “al Qaeda,” “Mohammed,” “ISIS,” and “F**k your God,” among other offensive things, Kwong reportedly assaulted the driver until he lost consciousness.   

SEE: NYPD officer charged with hate crime in alleged anti-Muslim attack, prosecutor says

In a statement, CAIR-NY Legal Director Ahmed Mohamed said:   

“We welcome hate crime charges against Mr. Kwong for this appalling and hateful attack. The rabid anti-Muslim bigotry allegedly displayed by Mr. Kwong raises serious concerns about all his interactions with Muslim suspects. The NYPD must conduct a thorough, in-depth investigation of all his past arrests of Muslim residents.”  

Mohamed noted that CAIR-NY called for hate crime charges after the incident occurred. 

CAIR-NY Calls on Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez to Add Hate Crime Charge for Off-Duty Cop’s Anti-Muslim Tirade, Assault on Driver 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq. Executive Director, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com