Group Says Attack On Muslim Woman At Michigan Mall Is A Hate Crime
MERIDAN TWP. (WWJ/AP) - A Muslim civil rights group wants police to investigate a reported attack on a Muslim woman as a possible hate crime.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations says three people allegedly attacked a 26-year-old woman in a shopping mall parking lot in Meridian Township, near Lansing, around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
A council spokesperson said the suspects, two men and a woman, attempted to pull the victim's dress and face veil off before knocking her down and shouting obscenities at her.
CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said the woman was hospitalized for 36 hours for chest pain and numbness in her left arm.
"We urge state, local and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this troubling incident and to make every effort to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice," Walid said in a statement. "We urge public officials to speak out against the anti-Muslim hate that can lead to such attacks."
Police are investigating the incident, but have made no arrests. Authorities declined to discuss further details.
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