The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed the arrest of a man who allegedly harassed a Muslim teenager and ripped off her Islamic head scarf, or hijab, in April.
Robert Pierpont, 40, was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated harassment. The suspect allegedly said, “You don’t need to be wearing that here,” before he tore off her hijab and ran away.
SEE: Man busted for harassing girl, ripping off her hijab in Manhattan
“We welcome the arrest in this disturbing case and urge law enforcement authorities to consider a possible hate crime charge based on the alleged actions and bias statement of the suspect,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher.
She noted that on Sunday, CAIR-NY welcomed a hate crime charge brought against a suspect who allegedly attacked a Muslim woman on a subway train platform in April. That suspect allegedly threw a can at the 22-year-old victim while shouting “f—ing Muslims.”
Earlier this month, CAIR-NY welcomed an investigation by the NYPD into a possible bias motive in the vandalism of a mosque in Brooklyn.
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.
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com