The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), today condemned the violent assault and arrest of two brothers – one a minor – inside the Egyptian Consulate in Manhattan.
SEE: MAS Youth Center Instagram Post
SEE: Video
According to video footage, Egyptian consulate staff physically dragged in the two brothers, who were there as part of a protest, repeatedly assaulting the older one with what appears to be a chain, and placing the minor in a chokehold. Footage shows NYPD responding to calls by witnesses, entering the Consulate and clearly seeing the ongoing assault of the two brothers. A short time after, NYPD arrested the two brothers and placed them in custody at the 17th Precinct. Upon reports emerging, the elder brother was charged with 2nd degree assault, and the younger sibling was charged with 3rd degree assault and/or strangulation. The charges against the minor were dropped today after an appearance in family court.
Afaf Nasher, CAIR-NY Executive Director of CAIR-NY stated:
“This outrageous abuse by a foreign agency against US citizens on our soil should shock our nation. These brothers were physically pulled into the consulate and beaten. Cameras captured the vicious violence and NYPD walked in as the assault was underway. Yet, instead of protecting our citizens, NYPD further victimized them with arrests and charges of assault they clearly did not commit.
“We call on the Manhattan District Attorney Alivn Bragg to immediately drop all charges and release the brothers, if still in custody. There should also be an investigation into the actions of Egyptian consulate officials.”
CAIR-NY is also demanding full transparency from both the NYPD and the State Department regarding why and how foreign consulate staff were allowed to use unwarranted violence against U.S. residents, and why the victims of that violence were made to face arrest and criminal charges.
CAIR-NY urges community members to stand in solidarity outside the 17th Precinct and demand the immediate release of these brothers.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq. CAIR-NY Executive Director, ANasher@cair.com
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com