Alleged Racist Assault on Palestinian Mother, Kids Shakes Texas Community

IQNA – A Muslim mother and her children became the victims of an alleged attempted murder at their apartment complex swimming pool in Euless, Texas.

The mother, identified only as Mrs. H, was reportedly interrogated by a White American woman about her country of origin and her use of a foreign language with her children before the assailant attempted to drown the kids on May 19.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations' Texas chapter (CAIR-Texas) has urged law enforcement to treat the case as a hate crime, citing the mother's Islamic headscarf as a potential motive for the attack.

The incident escalated when the attacker forcibly took the children to the pool's deep end. Mrs. H's efforts to rescue her children were met with violence as her headscarf was ripped off and used against her. The older kid managed to escape.

An African American bystander intervened, saving the youngest child from the assailant, who was later arrested and allegedly threatened the family's life while in custody.

CAIR officials have expressed deep concern over the incident, highlighting a troubling rise in Islamophobia and calling for a serious conversation with authorities to address the issue. “We are seeing a new level of bigotry here where a person deeply believes they get to decide, based on religion, spoken language, and country of origin, whose kids deserve to stay alive and whose don’t,” said Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager.

She said she was “devastated” to know that the attacker was released on bail the next day. “We ask for hate-crime probe, a higher bail bond, and an open conversation with officials to address this alarming increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment.”

Taha Taha, an American Palestinian criminal lawyer assisting the family, emphasized the right to community safety and cautioned against rhetoric that could fuel Islamophobic acts. “Our politicians and leaders must be careful when they address the media about foreign affairs to prevent acts of hatred that can only be attributed to Islamophobia and ignorance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Salman Bhojani said he was “shocked and appalled” by the alleged Islamophobic attack, condemning the hate-fueled act and offering support to the family.

The incident has left the family shaken, with Mrs. H expressing fear for her children's safety. “I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids,” she said, as quoted by CAIR’s website.

“My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here. My daughter is traumatized; whenever I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides, telling me she is afraid the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again,” she said.

“Also, my husband’s employment is jeopardized, due to having to leave work to accompany me and our four kids whenever we have appointments and errands to run,” said Mrs. H.

This event comes amid an increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian sentiment, with CAIR noting a significant number of complaints in recent months.

Source: Agencies