NEW YORK - A new physical and verbal attack targeting a Muslim veiled woman at Niagara Falls is sending shockwaves as an indication of a growing anti-Muslim sentiment across the United States, The Buffalo News website reported on Saturday, July 16.
"What may appear to be isolated hate crimes may be more accurately viewed as a troubling symptom of the growing level of Islamophobia in our society," said Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington.
The incident occurred last Thursday when 26-year-old woman of Pakistani origin was walking along Portage Road on the way to meet her husband.
Seeing the woman, who was donning a purple hijab and a traditional Pakistani attire, Antoinette S. Ivey, 32, of Ninth Street, and another woman in a van hurled ethnic and racial slurs at her calling her “bloody Paki”, a derogatory term for people of Pakistani origin.
They continued to yell at the victims even after she met her husband.
Totally disturbed by the unjustified attack, the victim asked them why they were swearing at her, the two women got out of the van and assaulted her.
According to witnesses, the victim was slapped in the face, knocked to the ground, punched and kicked repeatedly, police said.
Her hair also was pulled, and she suffered bruises, pain and swelling on her head and body.
The victim was taken by ambulance to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, where she was treated and released, police said.
Police described the incident as uncommon in a city that regularly welcomes international tourists of many ethnic origins.
Moreover, a local Muslim leader described relations between Muslims and others in the Buffalo Niagara region a much better than many other parts of the country.
Charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime, Ivey was held in the Niagara County Jail in lieu of $750 bail.
A second assailant is being sought by police.
The crime normally is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in a county jail, but as a hate crime, it becomes a felony punishable by up to four years in state prison, Assistant Niagara County District Attorney Peter M. Wydysh said.
Religious and Political Role
Seeking an effective resolution for the growing anti-Muslim sentiments, CAIR called on political and religious leaders to address the problem and stem out its roots.
"How do you prevent something like this if [you're a] law enforcement officer?" asked Hooper.
"It's almost impossible," Hooper said.
"I think it's more of a job for religious and political leaders, who need to speak out against this anti-Muslim sentiment in our society, so that those who carry out these attacks don't see tacit approval of their actions in the silence of public officials."
CAIR also called on the FBI to investigate the hate attack, a third on New York Muslims in recent months.
Hooper cited the most recent examples of growing Islamophobia, including GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain's opposition to a Tennessee mosque, claims that a Virginia mosque is seeking to take over America.
Another attack was the exposure by CNN of fraudulent "ex-terrorist" Walid Shoebat, and a Virginia Tea Party group's effort to ban a "pro-Islam" textbook.
Although there are no official figures, the United States is believed to be home to between 6-8 million Muslims.
According to a report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Race and Gender said that Islamophobia in the US is on the rise.
A US survey has also revealed that the majority of Americans know very little about Muslims and their faith.
A recent Gallup poll, however, found 43 percent of Americans Nationwide admitted to feeling at least “a little” prejudice against Muslims.
No comments:
Post a Comment