CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of Attack on Texas Muslim

Part of victim's ear bitten off by attacker who questioned his name and national origin

HOUSTON, Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today called on local law enforcement authorities and the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for an attack on a Texas Muslim in which a portion of the victim's ear was bitten off.

CAIR-Houston said the incident occurred on Wednesday in Tomball, Texas, when the victim, a security system salesman, was meeting a homeowner who began asking questions and then attacked him. "He kept asking about his name, and where are you from so he just became very aggressive," the victim's wife told KTRK-TV in Houston.

Video: CAIR Seeks FBI Hate Crime Probe of Attack on Texas Muslim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns6wBrLTI28

In addition to a portion of his ear being severed, the victim has 10 broken ribs. The alleged attacker has been charged with aggravated assault involving serious bodily injury. Family members of the victim believe the attack should be treated as a hate crime.

"Because of the questions reportedly asked of the victim, we urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this attack, to bring appropriate charges and to seek hate crime enhancements to any sentencing in the case," said CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll. "We view this troubling incident as part of a pattern of attacks on American Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim or Middle Eastern."

Carroll said the rise in anti-Muslim hate speech in American society is contributing to the Islamophobia that can lead to such attacks.

Earlier this week, CAIR called for federal hate crime charges to be filed against a man who allegedly said "f*** Osama Bin Laden" during an attack on a Wisconsin man of Moroccan heritage.

SEE: Man who allegedly beat Moroccan arrested for hate crime

http://tinyurl.com/6q5ehmm

Last week, CAIR called for similar hate crime charges against a man seeking to "save his country" by allegedly stabbing a faculty member of the University of Illinois College of Law who he thought was "Middle Eastern."

Earlier last week, CAIR contacted the FBI and local police to seek the investigation of a possible bias motive for the stabbing of a Sikh man at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California. (Sikh men who wear beards and turbans are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.)

Video: CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of Attack on Sikh in Calif.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCFAsWPNo1c

A Hindu man was assaulted last month in San Jose, Calif., by a group of men who called him a "terrorist."

SEE: San Jose Man Punched, Called 'Terrorist' on Grocery Trip to Lucky

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_19448504

A number of recent reports have documented the growth and promotion of Islamophobia nationwide.

CAIR: Same Hate, New Target

http://tinyurl.com/66enzm8

Center for American Progress: Fear, Inc.

http://tinyurl.com/7cozjxg

Southern Poverty Law Center: Jihad Against Islam

http://tinyurl.com/3qsv2v8

People for the American Way: The Right-Wing Playbook on Anti-Muslim Extremism

http://tinyurl.com/6j9fttw

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/CAIRNational

Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List

http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe

Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed

http://twitter.com/cairnational

Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/cairtv

CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 832-549-1042, 713-838-2247, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, 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