A Hate Crime in NPB

Hot off the press from the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA).  Late Monday, the group called on the Department of Justice to investigate as a hate crime an incident in which a Southern California Muslim taxi driver was assaulted after being asked about his religion. 

CAIR-LA said the Muslim driver was allegedly assaulted when he arrived at a Newport Beach cigar lounge on March 19 in response to a call for a taxi. The alleged victim reports that he was confronted by the owner of the facility when he inquired if anyone had requested a taxi. The man who identified himself as the owner allegedly told the victim, “I am a Marine officer, f**k you.”

Shortly after the verbal confrontation, a woman came out of the cigar lounge and confirmed that she had requested the cab. The victim stepped out of the cab to talk to the woman. According to the victim, three men then came out of the facility and confronted him, pushing him repeatedly and asked questions such as “What’s your religion?” “Where are you from?” and “We’re going to f**k you up like we f**ked up your country.”

The alleged assailants reportedly followed the victim to his taxi when he returned to push the vehicle’s emergency response button, which failed. Once inside his taxi, the victim had begun to call 911 when one the attackers allegedly sat in the passenger seat behind him, placed him in a headlock and proceeded to punch him. The other two men and the owner also allegedly began punching the victim. After a few minutes, the lounge owner reportedly said, “Stop, we’ve f**ked him enough.”

The victim sought medical treatment for facial and head injuries. Since the incident, he has missed work and reports that he is afraid to go to work.

CAIR-LA has contacted the DOJ to ensure the prompt investigation of the alleged assault as a hate crime. CAIR-LA also reported the incident as a hate crime to the Orange County Human Relations Commission and the Newport Beach Police Department, and has requested assistance  for the victim  from the Orange County Victims’ Assistance Program.

“We ask the Department of Justice and local law enforcement to promptly investigate this disturbing incident as a hate crime and bring appropriate charges against the perpetrators,” said CAIR-LA Civil Rights Manager Affad Shaikh.

Last August, a New York taxi driver was stabbed after being asked if he was a Muslim. The perpetrator was charged with attempted murder as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and criminal possession of a weapon.

This is clearly a case of Islamophobia, the likes of which practiced by notable elected Republicans in OC (Villa Park anyone?).

This definition, from the 1997 document ‘Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All’ is widely accepted, including by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia.
The eight components are:

1) Islam is seen as a monolithic bloc, static and unresponsive to change.
2) Islam is seen as separate and ‘other’. It does not have values in common with other cultures, is not affected by them and does not influence them.
3) Islam is seen as inferior to the West. It is seen as barbaric, irrational, primitive and sexist.
4) Islam is seen as violent, aggressive, threatening, supportive of terrorism and engaged in a ‘clash of civilisations’.
5) Islam is seen as a political ideology and is used for political or military advantage.
6) Criticisms made of the West by Islam are rejected out of hand.
7) Hostility towards Islam is used to justify discriminatory practices towards Muslims and exclusion of Muslims from mainstream society.
8) Anti-Muslim hostility is seen as natural or normal.