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American Muslim Convert Stabbed, Called ‘Terrorist Pig’
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"Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in Islamophobic attacks that parallels the ongoing right-wing campaign to demonize Muslims and Islam," said Awad
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WASHINGTON,
October 7 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – In a new
"Islamophobic attacks" – on the rise since the 9-11
attacks, a U.S. convert wearing hijab was stabbed in Virginia by a
White male teenager shouting "you terrorist pig," before
running away, said the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Tuesday, October 7.
The
47-year-old convert was treated at a local hospital for a 2-3 inch
deep wound on her lower back, and was released from hospital the same
day, it added.
"Unfortunately,
we are seeing a rise in Islamophobic attacks that parallels
the ongoing right-wing campaign to demonize Muslims and Islam,"
said CAIR
Executive Director Nihad Awad.
"This
smear campaign is having an impact on those in our society vulnerable
to the siren song of hatred and prejudice.
"As
we have requested many times in the past, elected officials and other
opinion leaders must speak out against this, and all other forms of
religious intolerance," he stressed.
Lt.
Butch Gamble of the Fairfax County Police Department told the
Washington-based civil rights and advocacy group that the incident is
being treated as an "apparent bias crime".
The
Washington-based civil rights and advocacy group called on the FBI to
investigate the attack as a possible hate crime.
The
attack came amidst a
massive surge of hate crimes and bigotry against Muslims and
Arabs in the U.S. since the 9-11 attacks.
Since
the beginning of the year, CAIR reported receiving several reports of
physical assaults against American Muslims (or those perceived to be
Muslim) and Islamic institutions.
Hate
crimes against Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. increased
to record levels, by 1,700% in 2001 according to crime statistics
compiled by the FBI.
Those
incidents included a recent arson attack on a Georgia mosque and the
kidnapping and beating of a Massachusetts pizza delivery man whose
attackers thought he was Muslim.
Similar
incidents have been reported in a number of other states.
On
September 30, an American was convicted of murdering a Sikh
man in Arizona, whom he mistook for an Arab in revenge for the
September 11 attacks.
Last
month, CAIR demanded that federal terrorism charges be brought against
an Illinois man who got off with just two years probation and
"anger
management" classes after he bombed a Muslim family's van.
In
Florida, a man was sentenced to just 12 years in prison for plotting
to attack some 50 Islamic institutions in that state.
Several
representatives of Muslim advocacy groups said that Muslim Americans
also stand up to a new wave of guilt-by-association schemes by federal
law-enforcement agencies.
Prominent
U.S. Muslim leader Abdul Rahman al-Amoudi was
detained last week by federal authorities allegedly for making
unauthorized trips to Libya and links to "terrorist groups".
Amoudi
dismissed the charges as "politically
motivated".
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