Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have condemned the attack.
AB Wire
An Indian chef was repeatedly punched in the face and called ‘ ISIS’ by an unidentified man in an alleged hate crime incident in Omaha, Nebraska.
Suthahar Subburaj, 30, who works as a chef at an Indian restaurant in Omaha, was attacked last month while he was taking out trash for work.
“ISIS, get out of my country,” a man wearing a black hoodie shouted to Subburaj and punched him multiple times. Then the man fled from the scene, a report in The Omaha World-Herald quoting police officials says.
Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have condemned the attack, calling it a hate crime.
“ Subburaj is a victim of the growing xenophobia towards people across the country of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent, citizens and recent immigrants alike,” Jay Kansara, HAF Director of Government Relations said.
“Law enforcement and government authorities must work closely with local community members of all racial and religious backgrounds in order to effectively address these types of attacks on innocent people and confront the hate and ignorance that fuel them,” Kansara added.
Local police are investigating the incident as a hate crime based on religion, HAF said, adding it is monitoring the case.
Subburaj, who has been living alone in Omaha for two years, hopes that his attacker will get punishment and also taught about different religions and races.
“His motivation and why he beat me, I don’t have an answer for that,” Subburaj said.
The Anti-Defamation League also condemned the possible hate crime in a press release.
“We must all stand together against bigotry, hatred and prejudice,” Mary-Beth Muskin, regional director of The Anti-Defamation League said.
“We urge law enforcement to investigate this incident as a possible hate crime and hope that the perpetrator will be apprehended swiftly and brought to justice,” Muskin added.