Chicago: Muslim Student Assaulted at School, Police Investigate

IQNA – A Muslim student wearing a hijab was assaulted by a fellow student at a Glendale Heights middle school, while other students recorded the attack and posted it online.

The incident occurred on Thursday at Glenside Middle School, 1560 Bloomingdale Road, according to Queen Bee School District 16 Superintendent Joseph Williams. He said the school contacted the Glendale Heights Police Department, which launched an investigation, Chicago Sun Times reported on Tuesday.

The victim is a girl from Saudi Arabia who has been in the US for only two months, said CAIR-Chicago, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.

A video of the attack showed a boy putting her in a headlock and shoving her to the ground. Videos show the girl sat on the floor of the hallway in shock and fear.  

Williams said there was no evidence that the assault was motivated by racial, cultural or religious bias. However, CAIR-Chicago said the same boy was allegedly involved in another bullying incident against a hijab-wearing student last year.

Williams claimed the district was taking steps to hold the students responsible for the attack accountable to the fullest extent of the law. CAIR-Chicago urged the district to address the bullying culture at the school.

“Bullying involves more than the perpetrator,” said Maggie Slaving, CAIR-Chicago’s operations manager. “Bystanders who watch and accept, or even reward this behavior, make it possible for the bully to carry out their attack. In this case, we see bystander students reinforcing the terrible ambush, filming it, and even gloating about it on social media. This larger culture must be addressed.”

Source: Agencies