CAIR-Texas Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Alleged Murder Attempt Targeting Two Muslim Children in Euless
Alleged attacker reportedly interrogated mother about her country of origin and her speaking to her children in a foreign language before jumping in swimming pool and allegedly trying to drown them.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an allegedly bias-motivated murder attempt targeting Muslim children in Euless, Texas, as a hate crime and take all precautions to keep the Muslim family and the Muslim community safe.
MEDIA ADVISORY: CAIR-DFW team, and local community leaders plan to hold a press conference about the incident.
WHEN: Tomorrow, Saturday, June 22 at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Hexa Co-working Event Center
2100 N. Greenville Avenue, Richardson, TX. 75082
CONTACT: CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, [email protected], 469-200-0273
The alleged attack (Euless PD report 24-00022036) reportedly occurred on Sunday, May 19th, at the family’s apartment complex swimming pool area. Mrs. H, the mother, who wears hijab (Islamic head scarf) and modest swimwear, was watching her children in the shallow end of the pool when a White American woman entered the swimming pool area.
The alleged attacker reportedly approached the mother with racist interrogations then jumped into the swimming pool and grabbed the children to the deep end of the pool to allegedly drown them.
The mother reported jumping into the pool to save her children. According to the mother, her 6-year-old-son was able to escape, but her petite 3-year-old daughter was unable. The alleged attacker snatched off the mother’s head scarf and used it to beat the mother as well as kicking her to keep her away while forcing her daughter’s head underwater.
Mrs. H stated that an African American man helped rescue her daughter from the attacker and more people gathered and witnessed. Cuffed and taken away by the police officer, the attacker reportedly shouted to a bystander woman who was calming the mother down “Tell her I will kill her, and I will kill her whole family.”
CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, Shaimaa Zayan, said “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. I was devastated to know that the attacker got a bail bond out of jail the next day after the arrest. We ask for hate-crime probe, a higher bail bond, and an open conversation with officials to address thisalarming increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian sentiment.”
“Every person has the right to feel safe and protected in their community. 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,” said Taha Taha, an American Palestinian criminal lawyer who is helping the case.
“I’m shocked and appalled by this alleged racist, Islamophobic occurrence that took place in my town. Hate has no place in Euless, District 92, or anywhere in our great state. I want to thank Euless PD for quickly apprehending the alleged provocateur, and I extend my service to the affected family. My office will continue to monitor this situation as it develops,” said Rep. Salman Bhojani.
“We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids. 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. 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.
Earlier this year, CAIR released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.
SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate
GoFundMe Campaign to support the family https://gofund.me/cd773b34
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Austin Operations Manager Shaimaa Zayan, 1-512-785-7105, [email protected]; CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 469-200-0273, [email protected]
