“Hate crimes are their own class of crime for a very good reason: The enhanced classification and punishment deters people from criminally acting out on their bigotry. It is the government’s obligation to its citizens to take a no-tolerance position on such crimes,” writes Ahmed Rehab.

“More Muslim women like Abusumayah need to speak up,” said Amina Sharif. “If you keep quiet, the bigotry will only continue.”
“Usually after incidents like Fort Hood, there tends to be a spike in hate crimes,” said Christina Abraham. “Current events cause people to act out in bigotry.”

“I think (a charge of hate crime) sends the appropriate message that these kinds of race-based lash-outs are unacceptable,” said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “Every time something like (the Fort Hood shootings) happens, the Muslim community prepares for a backlash.”

Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he’s pleased with the arrest.

“I’m happy to see the Tinley Park Police Department is not one where hate gets a free pass,” he said. “No group of Americans is left behind when it comes to equality.”

“I was shaken up,” Abusumayah told the SouthtownStar about the Nov. 7 assault. “This is my dignity and this is my religion.”
Ahmed Rehab of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said his organization has reached out to the FBI to pursue federal charges.

“Pulling a woman’s head scarf is clearly a hate crime and should therefore be investigated as such,” said Christina Abraham, the Chicago civil rights director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

CAIR-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab comments on the assault on a Muslim woman in Tinley Park, IL. Amal Abusumayah was shopping when another customer made hateful comments against Muslims and attempted to pull off Abusumayah’s headscarf.

CAIR-Chicago’s Ahmed Rehab responds to the harassment and assault of a Muslim woman in a Tinley Park, IL grocery store. CAIR-Chicago is reaching out to the FBI to pursue federal charges against the aggressor.

CAIR-Chicago is calling for charges to be filed in the case of a Tinley Park, IL woman who was shopping at Jewel when another customer tried to pull off her headscarf.

Amal Abusumayah was paying for her groceries when she felt a sharp tug on her headscarf. When she looked at who had pulled her hijab, Abusumayah saw a woman who moments earlier had made a derogatory comment about Islam. Becky Schlikerman reports on a CAIR-Chicago client.