Police arrested and charged two teens last week in connection to a heinous anti-Muslim hate crime.
According to a NYPD spokesman, two male teens, ages 14 and 15, were arrested on Friday, January 22 and charged with assaulting Bengali Mujibur Rahman on Friday, January 15 while allegedly yelling slurs at him.
Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda explained that the 14-year old suspect had expressed remorse to his mother for his involvement in the crime and turned himself into the 43rd Precinct.
The assemblyman added the teen, who was released to his mother, implicated his partner who was arrested and remains in custody.
Police said, the 14-year old faces charges of assault in the 3rd degree as a hate crime and harassment while his accomplice is charged with assault in the 3rd degree, reckless endangerment in the 2nd degree, aggravated harassment in the 2nd degree and harassment in the 1st degree as a hate crime.
As previously reported, Rahman, a 43-year old Parkchester resident, was the victim of an anti-Muslim assault on Friday, January 15 at 5:25 p.m. after picking up his nine-year old niece from P.S. 119’s after school program.
Ambushed from behind at 1075 Pugsley Avenue, Rahman who was dressed in traditional Muslim garb, was punched in the back of the head by one of the suspects before being knocked to the ground and punched in the face.
The teens reportedly shouted ‘ISIS’ while pummelling Rahman as his horrified niece, who was unharmed in the surprise attack, watched.
His assailants fled the scene leaving Rahman with a black eye, bruising to his face and a bruised rib before passing out.
The Bangladesh-born Rahman was rushed by EMS to Jacobi Medical Center where he was hospitalized overnight and released the next morning.
The juveniles’ attack was labeled by police a hate crime and is being investigated by the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force.
Following the arrests, Assemblyman Sepulveda has called for both “healing and praying for these two kids.”
“I hope that their parents impress upon them the seriousness of what they did and that they demonstrate remorse,” said the assemblyman. “Let’s continue to support the victim and show the world that our community will not allow religious intolerance.”
Rahman is relieved his attackers were caught and wishes them the best and harbors no ill will.
On Tuesday, January 19, Rahman and Sepulveda joined local elected officials and community leaders at a rally held at the attack site to condemn the hate crime and recognized the NYPD’s quick response.
In attendance at last week’s rally, Mohammed Mujumder, Community Board 9 first vice chairman and CB 9 Land and Zoning chairman, expressed the community’s response to the arrests.
“The community is very happy following these arrests,” said Mujumder, adding. “We are very thankful to the 43rd Precinct, the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force, our local elected officials and our community members for doing a wonderful job in bringing an end to this case.”
In light of recent events, Mujumder said a Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m. town hall meeting discussing this anti-Muslim hate crime will be held at Al-Imani Masjid and Community Center located at 2006 Westchester Avenue.
