Latest news with #FarhanMemon
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old accused in hate crime at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on twin Muslim students at their Connecticut middle school, authorities and advocates said. The physical altercation happened earlier this month at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through a summons to juvenile court, the accused student was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police said in a statement that investigators probing the March 3 incident "determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the definition of a hate crime." They also said the classification was reviewed and confirmed by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office. Another 13-year-old student accused in the altercation was referred to a youth diversionary program instead of being arrested, according to police, "based on her involvement in the incident." Police said their investigation included interviews with students and staff at the school "who were present or otherwise involved" in the incident. The students' names were not released by authorities. According to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the students were targeted for wearing hijabs. CAIR's chair Farhan Memon spoke out about the incident in an interview with the FOX affiliate station WTIC-TV. CAIR has reposted the interview to its social media platforms and website, alongside information about the alleged assault. Both sisters suffered injuries in the altercation, which police characterized as minor. They did not require immediate medical treatment at the scene of the attack, according to police, but CAIR said the injuries were "severe enough to require treatment at a hospital." The organization, which advocates for Muslim civil rights and against Islamophobia in the U.S., called the attack "brutal" in a March 12 post on Facebook. "The parents of the victims sought CAIR's assistance because they felt that they were not receiving sufficient communication from the school regarding disciplinary actions against the perpetrators or a clear plan to ensure their daughters' safety," the organization said. The Waterbury Department of Education has now acknowledged the incident as an act of bullying, police said, adding that education officials have "taken disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response to the incident." "While this was not part of a widespread problem, this is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another," said Darren Schwartz, interim superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools, in a statement. The Waterbury Police Chief said in a separate statement that his department is committed to taking seriously claims of bias-related incidents, adding the investigation into this one "reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment." CBS News contacted the police and education departments in Waterbury for more information but did not immediately hear back. Nature: Guanacos in Chile Is carbon capture a solution to the climate crisis? Extended interview: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal on "Othello"
CBS News
23-03-2025
- CBS News
12-year-old accused in hate crime allegedly targeting Muslim students at Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student faces a hate crime charge for her alleged involvement in an attack on twin Muslim students at their Connecticut middle school, authorities and advocates said. The physical altercation happened earlier this month at Wallace Middle School in Waterbury, Connecticut. Through a summons to juvenile court, the accused student was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police said in a statement that investigators probing the March 3 incident "determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the definition of a hate crime." They also said the classification was reviewed and confirmed by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office. Another 13-year-old student accused in the altercation was referred to a youth diversionary program instead of being arrested, according to police, "based on her involvement in the incident." Police said their investigation included interviews with students and staff at the school "who were present or otherwise involved" in the incident. The attack allegedly targeted twin seventh-grade students for wearing hijabs, according to the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, whose chair Farhan Memon spoke out about the incident in an interview with the FOX affiliate station WTIC-TV . CAIR has reposted the interview to its social media platforms and website, alongside information about the alleged assault. Both sisters suffered injuries in the altercation, which police characterized as minor. They did not require immediate medical treatment at the scene of the attack, according to police, but CAIR said the injuries were "severe enough to require treatment at a hospital." The organization, which advocates for Muslim civil rights and against Islamophobia in the U.S., called the attack "brutal" in a March 12 post on Facebook . "The parents of the victims sought CAIR's assistance because they felt that they were not receiving sufficient communication from the school regarding disciplinary actions against the perpetrators or a clear plan to ensure their daughters' safety," the organization said. The Waterbury Department of Education has now acknowledged the incident as an act of bullying, police said, adding that education officials have "taken disciplinary action, and implemented enhanced school safety measures in response to the incident." "While this was not part of a widespread problem, this is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another," said Darren Schwartz, interim superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools, in a statement. The Waterbury Police Chief said in a separate statement that his department is committed to taking seriously claims of bias-related incidents and said the investigation into this one "reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive school environment." CBS News contacted the police and education departments in Waterbury for more information but did not immediately hear back.
CNN
23-03-2025
- CNN
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack, according to CAIR. The student allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' CAIR said in a letter to city officials. Waterbury Public Schools said the gesture was made on March 3 after the fight. Asked about previous incidents among the students, the Waterbury Public Schools superintendent said there was an incident on February 28 that 'stemmed from a misconception that the twins were talking about the offender in class, which was deemed to be untrue.' 'The teacher immediately mediated between the students and offered further support, which was declined by all students,' superintendent Schwartz told CNN in an email statement. Schwartz said the February 28 conflict 'would not meet that threshold' of bullying. Police originally investigated the March 3 incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
CNN
23-03-2025
- CNN
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack, according to CAIR. The student allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' CAIR said in a letter to city officials. Waterbury Public Schools said the gesture was made on March 3 after the fight. Asked about previous incidents among the students, the Waterbury Public Schools superintendent said there was an incident on February 28 that 'stemmed from a misconception that the twins were talking about the offender in class, which was deemed to be untrue.' 'The teacher immediately mediated between the students and offered further support, which was declined by all students,' superintendent Schwartz told CNN in an email statement. Schwartz said the February 28 conflict 'would not meet that threshold' of bullying. Police originally investigated the March 3 incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
12-year-old accused of a hate crime after two Muslim students are attacked at their Connecticut middle school
A 12-year-old student is facing a hate crime charge in juvenile court after allegedly being part of a group that attacked twin seventh grade Muslim students at their middle school in Waterbury, Connecticut, authorities said Friday. The girl allegedly involved in the altercation was charged with intimidation based on bigotry and bias in the first and second degree through a court-issued summons to juvenile court. 'Investigators determined that the altercation was motivated by religion and/or ethnicity, meeting the legal definition of a hate crime,' according to a joint statement by the Waterbury State's Attorney's Office, Waterbury police and city officials. The twin 13-year-old girls had their hijabs pulled off and were kicked and punched in the girls' locker room during their gym period, according to Farhan Memon, chair of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. 'They were beaten up by two of their classmates,' Memon said. 'One girl had bruises on her face and her sister had something held against her neck.' One of the girls felt something slide across her neck, resulting in an abrasion on her neck, Memon told CNN. The girls' father took them to the hospital where doctors documented bruises and scrapes to the face, nose and neck, Memon added. Another student involved 'was referred to a youth diversionary program as an alternative to arrest, based on her involvement in the incident,' the city said in its statement. It's unclear if the two juveniles have appeared in juvenile court, or if they have legal representation. Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz in a statement said the incident is 'an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ensure our students are safe and respectful of one another.' The incident, which unfolded during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, comes as Muslims report a record-high number of anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations in its annual civil rights report released last week said it received 8,658 complaints of Islamophobia last year – the highest number ever recorded by the organization. The twins' family contacted CAIR one day after the locker room attack, leading to the nonprofit's involvement in the situation, Memon said. While Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said the attack at the middle school was an 'isolated incident,' CAIR says it wasn't the first time the twins – who immigrated with their parents to the US from Egypt last year – had faced bullying from their peers over their religion and ethnicity. 'Although the sisters are not fluent in English, they confirmed that in the weeks leading up to the incident, students—including the girls who allegedly assaulted them—used terms such as 'Arab,' 'Muslim,' and 'Hijab' while laughing and making gestures at them,' CAIR wrote in a letter to officials on March 18. Just days before the locker room attack, the twins had reported threats by the same student who has since been charged in the attack who allegedly 'dragg(ed) her finger across her neck in a death sign,' according to a letter sent by CAIR to city officials. CNN has reached out to Waterbury Public Schools for comment. Police originally investigated the incident as a disturbance or assault, but the family later provided more information alleging their daughters were the victims of a hate crime, leading to a 'thorough' investigation of the claims, according to the police department. 'Every student deserves to feel secure and respected in their learning environment, and we will continue to work closely with our school partners to uphold that standard,' Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo wrote in a statement.
