(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 9/16/20) — On Saturday, September 5, 2020, Mr. Farrukh Abbas Hashmi, a Muslim resident of King of Prussia, was walking in his neighborhood when an unleashed dog approached and bit him. When Mr. Hashmi confronted the dog’s owner, the man berated him, threatened him with physical violence, hurled racial slurs and epithets at him, and ultimately assaulted him. Mr. Hashmi recorded most of this unfortunate encounter with his cell phone, contacted local enforcement, and finally contacted CAIR’s National office.
See Video: Pennsylvania Muslim Assaulted, Told ‘Go Back to Your Country’
CAIR-Philadelphia and CAIR-Pittsburgh, in partnership with CAIR National, contacted the Upper Merion Township Police Department on behalf of Mr. Hashmi and advocated for the identification, arrest, and charging of Mr. Hashmi’s assailant.
We are pleased to announce that the Upper Merion Township Police Department has informed CAIR’s office that it has identified Mr. Hashmi’s assailant and will be charging him four counts: §2710(a) ethnic intimidation; §2709(a)(1) harassment; §5503(a)(1) disorderly conduct; and the Upper Merion Township ordinance 73-3 on the required confinement and/or control of dogs. We believe it is due to CAIR’s involvement in this matter, as well as to Mr. Hashmi’s bravery in recording his attacker that has resulted in the swift charging of the individual responsible for the racist attack.
CAIR-Philadelphia’s Civil Rights Attorney Timothy Welbeck said of the matter, “No one should have to endure the vicious attack Mr. Hashmi experienced from both animal and man. We are pleased that the Upper Merion Township Police Department took this matter seriously and elected to bring charges against the individual responsible for this heinous attack. CAIR will continue to stand against bigotry and hatred against all the people of our nation, and CAIR will continue our fight to ensure the protection of our constituents.”
CAIR-Philadelphia also announced that they will represent Mr. Hashmi as the case moves through the courts.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Jacob Bender, jbender@cair.com; CAIR-Philadelphia Civil Rights Attorney Timothy Welbeck, 267-515-6710 (office), twelbeck@cair.com.
