(GREATER ORLANDO, FL, 10/30/2013) - The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL) is seeking the public's help in identifying a man the Osceola County Sheriff's Office believes committed aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a third degree felony, by attempting to run a young Muslim mom and her two small daughters off the road multiple times in what appears to be a religiously-motivated hate crime.
SEE: OCSO Police Report, Aggravated Assault Hate Crime
The victim shared the horrifying incident on her Facebook Page, garnering 500+ shares from friends who are deeply disturbed by the account of her ordeal:
[NOTE: The victim is willing to do media interviews. CONTACT: CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, [email protected]; CAIR-Florida Communications Director Samantha Bowden, 703-298-7782, [email protected]]
Law enforcement authorities need the public's help in locating the suspect's vehicle. The victim describes the vehicle as "a black Ford, single cab pick-up truck with a black tool box in the back with the word 'Delta' written on it in red."
"Hate crimes such as this horrifying ordeal experienced by a young mother and her children are often the result of rampant Islamophobia generated by anti-Muslim rhetoric," said CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly.
Shibly cited the example of an event this Friday sponsored by the Orlando Republican Women's Network and featuring infamous Islamophobia and UCF Professor Jonathan Matusitz.
SEE: GOP to Host Controversial 'Islamic Threat' Professor This Friday
He called on Osceola County REC Chairman Danny Sexton to urge the women's group of his county party to sever ties with Matusitz, and all speakers who bash an entire religion and effectively marginalize millions of Americans.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Florida's Tampa Executive Director Hassan Shibly, 813-541-4321, [email protected]; CAIR-Florida Communications Director Samantha Bowden, 703-298-7782, [email protected]
