CAIR-NY Condemns Hate Assault Targeting Muslim Woman, Welcomes Hate Crime Charge in Assault on Muslim Uber Driver
(NEW YORK, NY, 8/23/24) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the assault of a Muslim woman in Brooklyn. CAIR-NY also welcomed hate crime charges in an assault on a Muslim Uber driver.
The NYPD is looking for the man who reportedly approached a Muslim woman and punched her multiple times in the face in Brooklyn. Officers say the suspect also made anti-Muslim comments at the woman before fleeing the scene. The NYPD Hate Crimes Unit is investigating.
In another incident, a woman has been charged with a hate crime after reportedly pepper-spraying her Muslim Uber driver. The woman reportedly sprayed the driver after he began praying in Arabic at an intersection. When the woman’s friend asked why she attacked the driver, she allegedly responded, “he’s brown.”
SEE: Woman charged with hate crime for attacking Uber driver
“These disturbing crimes demonstrate the real danger that anti-Muslim bigotry poses to members of our community,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. “We thank law enforcement for taking action and urge elected officials and community leaders to speak out against Islamophobia, racism and all other forms of bigotry.”
She noted that yesterday, CAIR-NY condemned the NYPD Strategic Response Group (SRG) for allegedly ripping hijabs off multiple Muslim women protesters outside a Democratic National Committee fundraiser last week.
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming complaints, a sixty-nine percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY 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, anasher@cair.com, 917-669-4006
Saira Amar, MPA, Communications Coordinator, SAmar@cair.com