Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sarker Haque, a Muslim store-owner in New York, was allegedly assaulted Dec. 12 by a man who is believed to have screamed that he would “kill Muslims”, officials said Dec. 15.
The suspect Piro Kolvani, 55, threw haymakers at the shop owner, but police and prosecutors have not yet charged him with committing a hate crime, news reports said.
The incident comes in the wake of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s invective against Muslims, who he said in a campaign speech recently, should be banned from entering the United States. The remarks sparked angry protests, not just by Muslims, but people from other communities and also from many supporters and leaders of the Republican Party. Many staged public protests in New York and elsewhere calling for what they described unconstitutional remarks against a whole community.
An NYPD source was quoted as saying that Piro wasn’t charged with a hate crime because Haque hadn’t told them about the anti-Muslim rant, a Daily News report said.
After Trump’s remarks the Muslim community felt his inflammatory statements might lead to a backlash against Muslims, similar to the ones they experienced after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The report said that Kolvani was charged with assault for the Dec. 12 afternoon attack inside the Fatima Food Mart on 21st Ave. Police said Kolvani stepped into the store and got into an argument with Haque. Kolvani then allegedly attacked Haque, leaving him with minor injuries.
Kolvani, who lives in Florida, received a desk appearance ticket and is expected to return to court Jan. 12, a spokeswoman for the Queens District Attorney’s officials said.
Haque was quoted as having told NY 1.com that Piro started cursing the storekeeper after asking if anything was free.“He punched me. Then, I’m falling down over there, then he said, ‘I Kill Muslims,’” he said.
The post Muslim Store-owner Attacked In New York appeared first on News India Times.
