The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today calls for investigation into the alleged attack on Riaz Khan, former Mukilteo City Councilman and current Republican candidate for the Washington State House of Representatives, 21st Legislative District.
Riaz Khan, a Muslim candidate for Washington’s legislature, was reportedly attacked early Tuesday morning by two assailants who called him a “f***ing foreigner” and “Trump supporter.” The two men reportedly began hitting him with wooden stakes. Khan said his assailants were two men, white, in their mid-30s to 40s. One was between 5-foot 10 inches to six feet in height with a goatee; the other was 5 feet 5 inches tall. Both wore black hoodies and were of medium build.
SEE: Muslim Republican candidate brutally assaulted in politically motivated attack – Lynnwood Times
SEE: House candidate says he was attacked; Mukilteo police investigating | HeraldNet.com
“We are upset to hear of this alleged bigoted assault and urge law enforcement authorities to be swift and thorough in apprehending the individuals responsible,” said CAIR-WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi. “Acts of violence will not intimidate American Muslims out of participating in the political process.”
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023. Statewide, CAIR-WA reports a 204% increase in calls for help regarding discrimination and hate from January to June 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints.
Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
CAIR-WA’s 2024 Washington Muslim Survey found that a staggering 82% of respondents reported experiencing discrimination or bias within the past year. The full report was published in September 2024 and can be read at cairwa.org/wams.
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CONTACT:
CAIR-WA Communications Director Katie Walker, kwalker@cair.com; CAIR-WA Executive Director Imraan Siddiqi, imraansiddiqi@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com