(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/23/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the response of Georgetown University to an alleged anti-Muslim and anti-Indian attack on two of its students.
In an email, university officials wrote in part:
“Two Georgetown students reported to the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) that at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, at the Wawa store at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Prospect Street NW an unknown suspect used Islamophobic and anti-Indian hate speech to threaten the students, one of whom was wearing a hijab. The suspect was described as a light complexioned man, approximately 5’3″, middle aged, wearing a gray hoodie, long pants, red hat and a black backpack.
“GUPD is coordinating with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to investigate this incident. If anyone has information about this incident, please report it to GUPD at 202-687-4343.
“We strongly condemn Islamophobia and anti-Indian hate. We stand together with our Muslim, Indian and Indian American communities. We understand the impact this distressing incident has on our community, and resources are available to support our students and employees…”
“We welcome Georgetown University’s swift and strong response to this reported incident, and we hope that members of the public will come forward with information about the alleged perpetrator,” said CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “Everyone in our nation, including Muslim women who wear hijab, should be able to live freely, without fear of being accosted or attacked because of their faith.”
Mitchell noted that just today, CAIR’s New York chapter welcomed the NYPD’s hate crime investigation into an alleged violent subway attack during which the assailant reportedly made anti-Muslim remarks. Yesterday, a New York man was arrested after he allegedly left a threatening voicemail with a mosque in that state.
He said that earlier this year, CAIR also released a report, titled “Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia,” documenting more than 6,720 complaints to CAIR offices nationwide involving a range of issues including immigration and travel, workplace discrimination, denial of public accommodations, law enforcement and government overreach, hate and bias incidents, incarceree rights, school incidents, anti-BDS/free speech, among other reported issues.
Mitchell added that said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: 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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com