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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR-NY Seeks Hate Crime Charges in Attack on Muslim Mother, Child

(NEW YORK, NY, 10/14/10) -- The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called for state and federal hate crime charges to be brought against a man who allegedly used religious slurs while attacking a Muslim mother and her 4-year-old son.

The Staten Island woman said her attacker called her a "terrorist and a Muslim" and pulled on her religious head scarf. According to the Muslim mother, the attacker -- a pedestrian -- allegedly reached through the driver's-side window of her car and punched her in the face. He then allegedly shattered a car window and tried to hit her 4-year-old son.

The alleged attacker was released without bail yesterday after being charged with attempted assault, criminal mischief, endangering the welfare of a child and weapons possession.

SEE: New 'Bias' Attack on SI Muslim

"Whenever religious slurs are alleged to have been used in an assault, it is imperative that hate crime charges be considered by state and federal law enforcement agencies," saidCAIR-NY Civil Rights Director Aliya Latif. "Even without the allegation of a bias motive, it's shocking that the alleged perpetrator was released without bail."

Latif noted that earlier this week, CAIR-NY called for federal hate crime charges to be brought against four teenagers who allegedly taunted and attacked a Muslim classmate because of his faith.

SEE: CAIR-NY Seeks Federal Charges for Hate Attacks on Muslim Student

On Saturday, CAIR's national headquarters announced the launch of a department devoted to addressing the alarming rise of Islamophobic sentiment in American society.

SEE: CAIR Launches Islamophobia Dept. at Sold-Out Banquet

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.