By Patrick Donachie
A Muslim man was assaulted outside a Queens Village mosque last week and the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked the police to consider the attack as a possible hate crime.
Mohamed Rasheed Khan, 59, was leaving the Center for Islamic Studies at 206-09 Jamaica Ave. in the evening of June 1 when he was approached by three young men, according to a statement released by CAIR.
The three men punched Khan in his face and head and he fell off of his bicycle, according to the NYPD. The assailants fled without taking his wallet, watch or bicycle, according to the statement. CAIR said the three men were laughing as they fled.
“Because of the location of the attack outside a mosque, the Islamic attire of the victim, and because nothing was stolen by the alleged attackers, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this troubling incident,” said Afaf Nasher, the executive director for CAIR’s New York chapter. “We urge the NYPD to step up patrols in the area of the mosque, particularly during activities associated with the upcoming fast of Ramadan.”
Khan was wearing traditional Islamic clothing at the time of the attack, according to the statement. He is being treated at Jamaica Hospital Center for multiple broken bones in his face, as well as fractured ribs and a concussion.
He was unable to speak or open his eyes and was scheduled for surgery Monday.
The NYPD asked anyone with information about the incident to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1 (800)-577-TIPS. They have also released surveillance video of the suspects.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
