Savage attack on Muslim family in Rego Park sparks call for hate crime probe

Rego Park resident Khaled Aly said he was beaten by attackers who harassed him and his wife for being Muslim Nov. 6. Photo courtesy of CAIR-NY

By David Brand

New York City’s largest Muslim rights organization has called on the NYPD to launch a hate crime investigation after a Rego Park man says he was savagely beaten by assailants who first harassed his hijab-wearing wife Nov. 6.

The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said two attackers — a man and a woman — confronted Khaled Aly, his wife Neamat Taha and their two children when they arrived at their home at about 11 p.m. The assailants grabbed Taha and told her “we are in America,” CAIR-NY said.

After Aly told them to leave, the pair of assailants began to beat him in front of his family while calling him a “f------ Muslim,” the family said. The couple said the attackers fled after Taha called 911.

Aly was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for severe face injuries. He was released Monday.

“Hate crimes targeting the Muslim community need to be taken seriously,” said CAIR-NY Legal Director Ahmed Mohamed.

“Mr. Aly was beaten mercilessly in front of his young children, who are now traumatized, and the NYPD knows the identities of the assailants and where they reside,” Mohamed added. “Yet, the NYPD has failed to make any arrests. It is outrageous and speaks to the lack of urgency to investigating crimes targeting the Muslim community.”

Aly and Taha say the attackers live in their apartment complex. Police say the incident seems to relate to an ongoing dispute between neighbors — not an anti-Islamic attack.

NYPD spokesperson Edward Riley said the Hate Crime Task Force determined that the attack was not “a bias incident” and that the 112th Precinct Detective Squad is investigating.