The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reports that Joseph Ballance, 23, was charged with second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime, only a misdemeanor, after being arrested at his home Thursday morning. Both alleged victims were dressed in Islamic attire.
According to police, the alleged attacker reportedly shouted anti-Muslim slurs, spit on the victims' car and threatened to kill them because of their religion.
SEE: Cops: Man Tried to Run Down Muslim Mom, Daughter (Newsday)
"We urge the FBI to join the investigation of this troubling incident to determine what federal civil rights charges might be brought against the alleged perpetrator," said Aliya Latif, civil rights director of CAIR's New York chapter. "These serious allegations deserve more than a misdemeanor charge."
She noted that CAIR reported over the past weekend that anti-Iranian graffiti was scrawled inside a Muslim-owned store in Philadelphia ransacked by vandals.
SEE: Vandalism at Penn. Business Probed as Hate Crime
SEE ALSO: Philadelphia Muslim Store Target of Apparent Hate Crime
Latif urged American Muslim individuals and institutions to review advice on security procedures contained in its "Muslim Community Safety Kit."
Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations
Published by Mike Hitchen,
Putting principles before profits
Racial Issues Muslim Hate Crime Racial Discrimination Philadelphia
Putting principles before profits
Racial Issues Muslim Hate Crime Racial Discrimination Philadelphia
