Interfaith groups call for hate-crime probe

Motorist attacks Muslim woman

A broad array of faith and rights organizations joined local Muslim groups Friday in calling for law enforcement to investigate the attack of a Milwaukee Muslim woman as a hate crime.

Munjad Ahmad, a member of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s executive committee, who has met with the woman since the attack, said she is doing better but is shocked and remains in significant physical pain.

On Friday leaders from the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition, Voces de la Frontera, Southeast Asian Educational Development, Ascension Lutheran Church, Jewish Voices for Peace-Milwaukee, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Supervisor Jason Haas all condemned the attack against the woman and asked for it to be investigated as a hate crime.

The woman was walking home from morning prayers at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee about 6 a.m. Monday when a car pulled up next to her.

A man got out of the car and demanded she remove her hijab. When she refused, the man pulled her to the ground, stomped on her head and slashed her clothing with a knife.

At the news conference Ahmad asked anyone with information on the perpetrator to contact law enforcement.

Milwaukee police have not said whether they are investigating the case as a hate crime. In a statement, the department said officers responded to a battery in the 4800 block of S. 13th St. about 11:30 a.m. Monday.

A woman told police she was “struck by an unknown suspect” several hours earlier near S. 13th St. and W. Layton Ave. and police continue to search for the male suspect, according to police.