HATE CRIME: Group calls on FBI to investigate attack on Sikh cab driver

A Washington state taxi driver was allegedly attacked by a man shouting anti-Muslim slurs after he commented on the cabbie’s turban. Submitted photo

The driver was allegedly attacked by a man shouting anti-Muslim slurs after he commented on the cabbie’s turban. The perpetrator reportedly referred to the victim as Iranian and Iraqi, and used several anti-Arab slurs during the attack, which witnesses described as “savage.”

According to police, the alleged assailant tore out chunks of the man’s beard and loosened one of the driver’s teeth.

“This vicious attack needs to be addressed by the FBI and federal prosecutors in the context of growing anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim prejudice nationwide,” said CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari. “We have asked the FBI to open a federal hate crime investigation into this case.”

American Muslim institutions have been targeted during a recent spike in hate incidents. A mosque in Ohio was recently targeted by an armed arsonist. And in September, CAIR called on the FBI to investigate hate vandalism at mosques in Virginia and New York. In August, CAIR asked authorities to investigate a suspicious fire at a mosque in Minnesota.

Tags: Attack, cab, cabbie, hate crime, Sikh, taxi

bill says:

October 30, 2012 at 10:10 pm

the browns should just stay in their own counry.

jag says:

October 30, 2012 at 8:52 pm

wow wonder why america ishated by canadians, south americans, asians & europeans. wut a sick country