Alleged assailant reportedly called Muslim boy 'terrorist,' said 'go home'

HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) said today that a Muslim junior high school student's jaw was broken earlier this week by a fellow student who had allegedly bullied the victim using ethnic and religious slurs, including calling the injured student a "terrorist."

The Arab-American Muslim 8th-grader at Beckendorff Junior High in Katy, Texas, remains hospitalized following surgery yesterday to insert pins and a plate to repair his jaw, which was broken in two places. The boy's father says he was struck by a much larger boy following incidents of racial and religious bullying. (The victim's family said he is 5'2" and 125 pounds, while police say the alleged assailant is 5'8" and 180 pounds.)

The Muslim victim allegedly pushed the larger boy when he felt threatened during a physical education class on Tuesday. Minutes later, the larger boy allegedly punched the Muslim student without warning.

According to the injured boy's family, the alleged assailant had in the past bullied their son with taunts of "terrorist," "you are Muslim, you should go home," and "you blow up buildings."

CAIR has been in communication with the victim's family, school district police and school officials about the incident. Three different school officials told CAIR they could not comment on the incident because of legal restrictions.

"Students of all faiths and backgrounds must be able to learn in an environment free of racial or religious bullying and taunts," said CAIR-Houston Board Member Kaleem Siddiqui.

He noted that earlier this week, CAIR's Sacramento, Calif., chapter welcomed a decision to bring hate crime charges against a man who is accused of using racial slurs during an attack on Muslim store clerks.

SEE: Hate Crime Charges Follow Attacks on Calif. Muslims

http://tinyurl.com/califhatecrime

Siddiqui said CAIR publishes a booklet, "An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to help school officials provide a positive learning environment for Muslim students.

SEE: An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices

http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/education_guide.pdf

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.

CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Board Member Kaleem Siddiqui, 713-838-2247 or 832-305-6237, E-Mail: info@cairhouston.org; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

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