(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 11/11/16) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) tonight called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate threats to a Muslim woman, her children and her elderly parents in that state as a hate crime.
CAIR-Ohio reports that the Muslim woman who wears and Islamic head scarf (hijab), was in her car with her children and elderly parents when they were threatened and abused by a man when she stopped at a traffic light.
A man allegedly approached the car at the traffic light and started banging on the window. He then reportedly started shouting abuse and obscenities at the Muslim woman driver. He allegedly told her, “C**t, you don’t belong in this country,” “Go back to your f**king country,” among other obscenities. The man also allegedly took pictures of the children in the car.
The Muslim woman immediately called the police and reported the incident.
“We are alarmed by the nationwide rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes,” said CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney Romin Iqbal. “We hope law enforcement authorities follow up on this and all other alleged hate crimes targeting American Muslims. If perpetrators are held to account, it will lead to a reduction in the number of these incidents.”
Iqbal said CAIR-Ohio is investigating other reports of hate crimes against Muslims in Central Ohio in the last few days, including an Ohio State Muslim student who was reportedly threatened for wearing her hijab.
CAIR’s New York chapter is also investigating a similar incident in which a Muslim woman was assaulted on a bus in Queens.
SEE: Muslim Woman Says She Was Told to ‘Take That Disgusting Piece of Cloth Off’ Her Head on Queens Bus
https://gothamist.com/2016/11/11/mta_bus_muslim_hate_queens.php
Muslim Women in Hijabs Report Harassment, Intimidation Following Election
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/muslim-women-in-hijabs-report-harassment-intimidation-following-election/
In Georgia, a high school teacher said she was left a note in class telling her that her hijab “isn’t allowed anymore.”
SEE: Muslim Gwinnett Teacher Told to ‘Hang Yourself’ With Her Headscarf
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/muslim-gwinnett-teacher-told-hang-yourself-with-her-headscarf/XVrOecQFQRbKc7SuggJMtI/
In Minnesota, Muslim students say they were targeted by racist graffiti.
SEE: 2nd High School Investigated for Racist Graffiti
https://www.kare11.com/news/2nd-high-school-investigated-for-racist-graffiti/351044123
In Michigan, a man was arrested for allegedly yelling ethnic slurs at a Muslim woman and hitting her car.
SEE: Jogger Exposes Self to Muslim Woman, Yells Ethnic Slurs: Police
https://patch.com/michigan/troy/jogger-exposes-self-muslim-woman-yells-ethnic-slurs
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members who believe their rights have been violated to contact local police and CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: https://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney Romin Iqbal, 614-783-7953, riqbal@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
Post time: Apr-04-2017