ADC Letter to British Ambassador Urges Investigation into Ramadan anti-Muslim Hate Crime

Gang attacks worshipers leaving south London mosque after Ramadan sunset prayers. 67-year old man attacked while accompanying five-year old granddaughter
Washington, D.C. | September 4, 2009 | www.adc.org | Today, in a letter to British Ambassador Sir Nigel Elton Sheinwald, the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee (ADC) expressed its serious concern over attack that took place yesterday by a gang of approximately twenty youth against worshippers leaving a mosque after Ramadan sunset prayers in Tooting south of London. The attack resulted in several serious injuries including life threatening injuries to a 67-year old gentleman who was accompanying his five-year old granddaughter. According to reports, the attackers included approximately twenty youth.
In the letter to Ambassador Sheinwald, ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, “We are confident that a comprehensive legal investigation is being conducted by British authorities. However, this anti-Muslim attack during the Holy Month of Ramadan must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The letter continued, “We are assured that British authorities will use all available legal means to classify this as a hate-motivated attack and report it to the appropriate agencies monitoring anti-Muslim intolerance including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non sectarian and non partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980, by former Senator James Abourezk to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States and to promote the cultural heritage of the Arabs. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.
The ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI), which was founded in 1981, is a Section 501(c)(3) educational organization that sponsors a wide range of programs on behalf of Arab Americans and of importance to all Americans. ADC-RI programs include research studies, seminars, conferences and publications that document and analyze the discrimination faced by Arab Americans in the workplace, schools, media, and governmental agencies and institutions. ADC-RI also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arabs.
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Contact: Yousef Munayyer
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee | www.adc.org
1732 Wisconsin Ave., NW | Washington, DC | 20007
Tel: 202-244-2990 | Fax: 202-244-7968 | E-mail: media@adc.org

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