The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate as a hate crime the reported harassment and alleged assault of wedding guests by two anti-Palestinian suspects arrested at a Maryland Muslim woman’s wedding in late June.
Wedding participants report that they were subjected to both hate speech such as “F*** Palestine” and violent attack, including being choked and punched.
SEE: Metropolitan Police Department case report numbers
CCN 095-459
CCN 095-497
CAIR and the victims have requested an Incident/Offense Report (PD-251) from the police department.
“Every parent dreams and prepares for their child to get married one day and start their new life,” said the parent of the bride in a statement to CAIR. “Our family is devastated and deeply disheartened that our daughter’s wedding, an occasion filled with joy and celebration, was marred by this kind of racist violence and bigotry against some of our guests. This is unacceptable, we want to see justice.”
“I was attacked in public for wearing the keffiyeh in solidarity with my brothers and sisters being massacred in Palestine, this was a hate crime and should be treated as such,” said the victim who was reportedly choked, in a statement to CAIR. “My speaking up to demand justice isn’t just for myself but also for anyone who stands for freedom and liberation for the oppressed.”
“We unequivocally condemn this alleged attack and call on law enforcement authorities to prosecute the suspects to the full extent of the law,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “While displaced Palestinians overseas are enduring the trauma of relentless bombings, forced starvation and settler colonial violence, those who stand for their rights and freedom here are facing rampant racism and bigotry. The injustices and dehumanization deserve to be addressed with serious consequences.”
BACKGROUNDER:
On June 22, a Maryland Muslim family held the wedding of their daughter at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. CAIR was told that around 11:30 p.m., as two guests wearing keffiyehs left the wedding and exited the hotel, two white male individuals walked past them toward the hotel entrance. One of the males reportedly brushed against the shoulder of one of the guests and yelled “F*** Palestine.” One of the two guests reportedly responded verbally: “I don’t think my cousins in Gaza would be happy to hear that.” CAIR was told that the two suspects allegedly responded with more vulgar, anti-Palestinian comments including “wishing death upon Gazans.”
CAIR was told that four African-American women then intervened to help de-escalate the situation. Despite their efforts, the two males reportedly started walking towards the guests. One of the guests, telling CAIR he was concerned for the women’s safety, offered: “If you want to talk, let’s talk about it.”
At that point, one of the males allegedly wrapped his hands around one of the guests’ neck and began choking him. The guest reportedly dislocated his thumb trying to extricate himself from the alleged attacker’s choking maneuver, who proceeded to reportedly punch the guest in the face resulting in a black eye.
As the guests tried to get to safety, one of the alleged attackers reportedly shouted, “NYPD motherf****.” The guest was reportedly punched a second time as one of the male suspects reportedly demanded, “Give me that f****** keffiyeh.” As the two guests tried to get to safety, a passerby driving past them reportedly screamed, “Leave them alone!” to which one of the male suspects reportedly replied, “I’m going to f***** bash your window.”
Both male suspects were taken into police custody at the hotel.
Earlier this year, CAIR released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.
SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com