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CNN
23-03-2025
- CNN
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack, according to CAIR. The student allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' CAIR said in a letter to city officials. Waterbury Public Schools said the gesture was made on March 3 after the fight. Asked about previous incidents among the students, the Waterbury Public Schools superintendent said there was an incident on February 28 that 'stemmed from a misconception that the twins were talking about the offender in class, which was deemed to be untrue.' 'The teacher immediately mediated between the students and offered further support, which was declined by all students,' superintendent Schwartz told CNN in an email statement. Schwartz said the February 28 conflict 'would not meet that threshold' of bullying. Police originally investigated the March 3 incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
CNN
23-03-2025
- CNN
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack, according to CAIR. The student allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' CAIR said in a letter to city officials. Waterbury Public Schools said the gesture was made on March 3 after the fight. Asked about previous incidents among the students, the Waterbury Public Schools superintendent said there was an incident on February 28 that 'stemmed from a misconception that the twins were talking about the offender in class, which was deemed to be untrue.' 'The teacher immediately mediated between the students and offered further support, which was declined by all students,' superintendent Schwartz told CNN in an email statement. Schwartz said the February 28 conflict 'would not meet that threshold' of bullying. Police originally investigated the March 3 incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack who allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' according to a letter sent by CAIR to city officials. CNN has reached out to Waterbury Public Schools for comment. Police originally investigated the incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
CNN
23-03-2025
- CNN
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack who allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' according to a letter sent by CAIR to city officials. CNN has reached out to Waterbury Public Schools for comment. Police originally investigated the incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
Morocco World
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Muslim Council in US Deeply Concerned About Rising Islamophobia Worldwide
Rabat — Islamophobia is on the rise, as is evidenced by reports sharing alarming data on the number of Islamophobic sentiments and attacks towards Muslims across the world, including the US. The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the country's largest Muslim civil rights organization, recently remarked on the Islamophobia documented in the US in 2023 and cited anti-Muslim attacks taking place across the world, including the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, as well as against the Rohingya in Myanmar. 'Its insidious effects are evident around the world – from the blood-soaked ruins of Gaza, to the killing fields of Myanmar, to the concentration camps of Chinese-ruled East Turkestan,' the group wrote in an op-ed on Saturday. The op-ed recalled the complaints it received from Muslims, noting that 2023 marked the highest number of Islamophobia reports that the organization has ever recorded in its 30-year history. The number, which stood at 8,061 that year, represented an uptick in Islamophobic acts that brought 'numerous stories of human tragedy,' including the killing of a six-year-old Palestinian American boy in Chicago. Last year, the council recorded 8,656 complaints, showing a 7% increase compared to 2023. 'This year, a woman in Texas tried to drown a 3-year-old Muslim child in a swimming pool,' CAIR said, noting that the woman also hurled hateful slurs and death threats against the child and his whole family. The council also slammed social media platforms like X, accusing its owner Elon Musk of also sharing anti-Muslim content. 'The seeming algorithmic preference given to anti-Muslim content on Twitter since it was purchased by Elon Musk, who has himself shared anti-Muslim content and supported anti-Muslim parties, is not without real world consequences,' CAIR said, recalling a false claim suggesting that the perpetrator of a mass stabbing in England was a Muslim. For the organization, social media platforms are often used as a direct stage for Islamophobic acts, pointing out how the perpetrator of the Christchurch massacre in New Zealand streamed his murders on Facebook. In 2019, Brenton Tarrant entered two mosques in Christchurch, in which he killed 51 Muslims and streamed the crime in cold blood. Saturday marked the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, with world leaders calling for urgent actions to tackle the crisis targeting Muslims. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres shared a message, urging everyone across the world to eradicate bigotry and to speak out against discrimination. 'On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let us work together to uphold equality, human rights and dignity, and build inclusive societies where everyone, regardless of their faith, can live in peace and harmony,' he said. Tags: Islamophobiaislamphobia in france
