International Shia News Agency

US Muslim family attacked in North Carolina

SHAFAQNA – A Muslim family has been targeted and one woman has been injured in North Carolina after their home was hit with a hail of gunfire, according to police officials. The shooting incident happened in eastern Mecklenburg County, just outside of Charlotte, early Tuesday morning. Abdul, the homeowner who asked to be identified by his first name, said as many as 18 bullets were fired into his home, the Charlotte Observer reported. “We don’t know if it was a random shooting” or the family was targeted because they are Muslims, Abdul told reporters. “We hope it’s not the second case.” Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Capt. Chuck Henson said police won’t know if a hate crime was involved in the case.

Abdul’s wife was injured after one bullet went through a window and hit the woman in the thigh as she slept. “Why our house in particular?” he asked. “Why aren’t the other houses shot at? Looks like we were targeted for one purpose or another, and it doesn’t sound like a random shooting.” “We are traumatized, all of us, and we are thinking who can be shooting at us? Is it for motive? We have no idea,” Abdul said. The incident happened one month after three American Muslim students were shot dead in an apartment near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus.

The victims were Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. Police arrested the shooter, identified as Craig Stephen Hicks and he was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of first degree murder. Barakat, 23, Yusor, 21, and Razan, 19, were all shot in the head. The tragic murders of three bright Muslim students have started a debate over whether the students were targeted because of their religion. Earlier this month, another Muslim man was shot dead while he was taking pictures of the snow with his family in Dallas, Texas. Ahmed al-Jumaili, 36, died from his injuries after he was transported to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

A new survey showed a large majority of Americans believe that Muslims in the United States are victims of discrimination amid recent attacks against the community. According to the poll conducted by Economist/YouGov last month, 73 percent of respondents said Muslims face a great deal or a fair amount of discrimination.

Source : Press TV

Leave a Comment