The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on 5 May urged state and federal law enforcement authorities to bring hate crime charges against two suspects who allegedly verbally and physically assaulted a Muslim student in Boston, Mass. CAIR said the alleged victim, a 23-year-old American citizen of Algerian heritage, was assaulted Saturday (4 May) evening by the two white males when he left a Boston restaurant. The alleged assailants reportedly told the victim “you look like Tamerlan,” referring to deceased Boston bombing suspect TamerlanTsarnaev, and told him to “get out of my country.” The victim suffered cuts and bruises while defending himself during the altercation.
Police say the suspects have been identified but have not been arrested. (Boston Police Report No. 130265159) “We urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to take the suspects into custody and to bring appropriate charges that reflect the apparent bias motive in this case,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.