CAIR: Racial Slurs Used During Attack on Iowa Muslim

Iraqi refugee allegedly called 'raghead,' 'terrorist,' 'camel jockey'

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Iowa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-IA) today called on local state and national law enforcement agencies to investigate an allegedly bias-motivated attack on an Iowa Muslim as a possible hate crime.

CAIR-IA said an 18-year-old Iraqi refugee and his mother were reportedly assaulted following a recent softball game at Cedar Rapids' Tait Cummings Park by a member of the opposing team.

During the game, supporters of the opposing team allegedly shouted racial slurs at the victim and his team members. After the game, the victim was allegedly hit in the jaw by an assailant from the opposing team who shouted slurs such as "raghead," "terrorist" and "camel jockey." The victim's jaw was broken in the alleged assault. The victim's mother was allegedly assaulted by the same person when she tried to defend her son.

[Other players on the victim's team, who are members of minority groups, were also allegedly called "n**ger" and "spic."]

No arrests were made at the time of the incident, but CAIR-IA has since worked with a representative of the Linn County attorney's office to have a warrant issued for the alleged attacker.

"Hate crime charges are appropriate whenever evidence indicates that an attack was motivated by bias," said CAIR-IA Executive Director Miriam Amer. "Law enforcement authorities should bring the alleged perpetrator to justice and community leaders should speak out against the intolerance that leads to such incidents."

She said the recent beating of a California Muslim is being investigated as a hate crime. Other attacks on Muslims nationwide have included the bombing of a Florida mosque.

SEE: Beating of Calif. Muslim was Hate Crime (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dW-Uva5aOA

CAIR Video: Fla. Mosque Attack Called Terrorism, Reward Offered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEGRSzqT_3o

Amer said these incidents can be attributed in part to growing anti-Islam sentiment in American society.

CAIR Video: Islamophobia Surfaces at Meeting on Tenn. Mosque

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C6SO0LHiRw

Yesterday, CAIR submitted testimony into the record of a House committee investigating racial profiling.

CAIR Testimony on Racial Profiling Submitted to House Committee

SEE: http://tinyurl.com/27m5dkf

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization is urging American Muslim individuals and institutions to review advice on security procedures contained in its "Muslim Community Safety Kit" and to report any similar incidents to the nearest CAIR office.

SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit

http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx

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.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CAIR/42590232694

Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List

http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe 

CONTACT: CAIR-IA Executive Director Miriam Amer, 319-573-6617, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

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