(WASHINGTON D.C., 6/24/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Maryland State Police to release any video or other records on a possible bias-motivated hit and run incident targeting a Palestinian-American Muslim family.
CAIR’s request for video, audio and other documentation of the collision and its aftermath is in response to a Maryland Public Information Act records request to the Maryland State Police by the family.
“We are requesting all possible documentation of the collision and its immediate aftermath so that all the facts in this case can be made public and investigated,” said CAIR’s Maryland Office Director Zainab Chaudry. “The response of Maryland State Police to this incident, in which a Muslim woman was nearly struck by a vehicle, has been inadequate and unacceptable, particularly given the behavior of the patrol officer who initially responded.”
BACKGROUNDER:
Earlier this week, CAIR called for a criminal probe of the incident in which a driver allegedly swerved and hit the door of the family’s vehicle when they had stopped on the side of the road on I-95, nearly missing one of the family members who was wearing an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
The driver, who was chased down by a Maryland State patrol officer after allegedly speeding away from the scene, was cited for four traffic violations but was not detained. The officer reportedly tried to excuse the driver’s actions and place blame on the family.
Maryland State Police have denied a bias motive, saying there is no evidence the collision was anything more than “an unfortunate sequence of events.”
SEE: CAIR Calls for Criminal Probe of Possible Bias Motive in Maryland Hit and Run Incident Targeting Palestinian-American Muslim Family
CAIR says Harford County hit-and-run crash targeted Muslim family; state police say there’s no evidence of crime
https://news.yahoo.com/cair-says-harford-county-hit-040100634.html
SEE PHOTOS OF COLLISION:
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/HitandRun.png
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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 Office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@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