Monday, July 18, 2011

Cincinnati: Hijab is a Symbol of Faith, Freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Seeks FBI Probe of Third Hate Attack on NY Muslims
Muslim woman in traditional attire beaten, called 'bloody Paki'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/15/11) -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on the FBI to investigate a third recent hate attack on New York Muslims.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reports that a 26-year-old Muslim woman of Pakistani heritage was attacked Thursday evening inNiagara Falls by assailants who yelled racial and ethnic slurs at her and called her a "bloody Paki." ("Paki," a derogatory term for people of Pakistani origin, was spelled "packy" in the police report.)

SEE: Police Probe Hate Crime in Falls (Buffalo News)

The victim told CAIR she was dressed in traditional Pakistani attire at the time of the attack. One alleged attacker was charged with third-degree assault as a hate crime. A second assailant is being sought by police.

"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 CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

He 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, the exposure by CNN of fraudulent "ex-terrorist" Walid Shoebat, and a Virginia Tea Party group's effort to ban a "pro-Islam" textbook.

SEE: Cain Opposes Planned Tenn. Mosque (NY Daily News)
Video: VA. Mosque Opponent -- 'They're Teaching Them to Take Over This Country'
Video: CNN Exposes Walid Shoebat's Terror Training Scam (CAIR)
Watch Part 1
Watch Part 2
Tea Party Says Virginia Textbook is Pro-Islam

Last Saturday, CAIR's New York chapter called on state and federal authorities to file hate crime charges against two people who allegedly attacked a Muslim woman, ripped off her religious attire and called her a "f**king terrorist."

SEE: Muslim Gal Assaulted in Harlem (NY Post)

CAIR-NY also recently welcomed the filing of hate crime charges against a Brooklyn man who allegedly shouted "F***ing Arabs! F***ing terrorists!" as he attacked a Turkish man and his wife who live next door.

SEE: Brooklyn Hasid Faces Hate Crime Charges for Attacking Muslim Neighbors

CAIR and the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Race and Gender recently released a report that documents growing Islamophobia in the United States.

Video: News Conference Announcing Release of Islamophobia Report

The Muslim civil rights organization is urging members of the Muslim community to review security procedures using advice contained in its "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit

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.

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