Sikhs & Muslims Attacked in USA?

82 Yr. Old Sikh Beaten Near Death
Woman Attacked with Hijab
Man Shot Driving His Car

From Florida to California Sikhs and Muslims - both men and women are coming under severe attacks over the last few months.

As recent as this just days ago (below) we know of an attack on one Sikh man by a man with an iron rod. Another Sikh man and his son were shot at and hit while driving down the street (below).

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FRESON, CALIFORNIA - May 8 Wednesday [UPDATE] 82 Yr. Sikh Man Severely Beaten Outside Temple

Is this bloody, brutal attack being treated as hate crime by police?  Good question.

Here's the latest on the Fresno, California attack on Mr. Singh, who received severe head injuries, broken bones, broken ribs, collapsed lung and remains hospitalized in serious condition at this time.

Attack reported to have occurred early morning around 7 AM in front of temple at 3000 block of S. Cherry Ave. just as victim was walking out of the temple.

Attacker rode up on bike, then without warning or any words, began beating Mr. Singh on his head and all over his body with iron rod.

Temple officials reported attack was not robbery and no one, including Mr. Singh had ever seen the man before the attack.

Suspect described as late 20s, possible early 30's caught at the scene of crime in police custody today.

FBI and police in Fresno investigating attack to give complete update to local community today at temple.

Islam Newsroom will be following this story to see if it is being treated properly as a 'Hate Crime', inshallah.

Just over two months ago in down in Daytona, Florida another Sikh man was shot twice while at the wheel of his car.

Daytona, Florida --

Two community organizations are calling upon local law enforcement officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to conduct a thorough investigation of the shooting of a Sikh man as he drove his car in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Saturday, and determine whether it was motivated by bias.

The victim’s 13-year-old son, who was also in the car with him at the time, was not injured.

The Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) also said in a statement that local authorities, working in collaboration with the FBI, do not believe this was a random act of violence. They understand that the victim is a Sikh and are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime.

According to local news reports, as Kanwaljit Singh was traveling in his car with his son, a late 80s to early 90s Ford F-150 truck pulled up beside him, and several shots were fired. As Singh pulled over to the side of the road to call the police, he realized that he had been shot in his thigh and torso. He is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.

The Sikh Coalition and SALDEF have been in contact with local law enforcement, the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office. Additionally, the Community Relations Service of the Department of Justice will be coordinating a meeting with law enforcement officers and the local Sikh community early this week.

Port Orange Police Department are asking community members to contact Detective Jeff Wenzel at (386) 506-5884 or (386) 506-5800 only with specific information that might lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Any general comments or concerns regarding the investigation of this incident as a hate crime should be directed at the Sikh Coalition or SALDEF, the statement said.

The question we ask is, "Are these attacks being perpetrated by vigilanties who somehow have confused the people of the Sikh religion with Muslims, who sometimes wear similar clothing and headcoverings?"

And, "Isn't this something Muslims should be very concerned about? After all, considering the attackers not knowing the difference between the Sikh men and Muslim men, these same attackers would have no problem in recognizing our Muslim women in their hijabs (body and head coverings).

If so, then what must the Muslims in America do. What are our rights? What actions are needed? Who can we turn to? How do we defend ourselves?

The Council on American Muslim Relations (CAIR) in Washington, D.C. is a great place to start.

Here is more about CAIR:

CAIR: Muslim Organization Offers $5,000.00 Reward

CAIR called for an FBI investigation of an attack on a Sikh cab driver in West Sacramento, Calif. Driver's passengers were insulting him with anti-Muslim remarks during the attack. Two men were later arrested on charges of felony assault and commission of a hate crime.

CAIR: Muslim Assaulted In Bias Attack Outside Boston Restaurant

CAIR urged state and federal law enforcement authorities to bring hate crime charges against two suspects who allegedly verbally and physically assaulted a Muslim student in Boston, Mass.

CAIR recently asked prosecutors in Virginia to bring felony charges based on that state's hate crime law for an alleged assault on a Muslim U.S. Army reservist and Iraq veteran reportedly attacked by a passenger who compared him to those who carried out the Boston Marathon bombings and threatened to kill him.

Taxi Driver Claims He Was Attacked Because He is Muslim. Several other bias-motivated incidents targeting Muslims may have been linked to the Boston bombings.

In Malden, Mass., a mother of Middle Eastern heritage wearing an Islamic headscarf, or hijab, was assaulted by a white male shouting anti-Muslim slurs.

In New York, a Bangladeshi man was beaten hours after the Boston Marathon bombing by attackers who called him "a f**king Arab." The victim was punched in the head and body, resulting in a dislocated shoulder.

Hate Crimes in MA, NY Follow Boston BombingsCAIR's Oklahoma chapter also called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a second incident of vandalism targeting a mosque in that state to determine whether it is backlash from the Boston Marathon bombings.

CAIR is investigating other reports it has received recently of threats to American mosques and Muslim schools.

CAIR - Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization

• CONTACT: CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra, 916.289.3748,  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NOTICE: AUTHORITIES REQUEST US TO REPORT ANY SUSPCIOUS PEOPLE HANGING AROUND TEMPLES, CHURCHES OR MOSQUES TO LOCAL POLICE