General view of Stanford University in California
Authorities in the US state of California have announced that an Arab Muslim student at Stanford University was injured in a car accident on campus.
“hate crime”
In detail, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into what it called a “hate crime” in which an Arab Muslim student was injured in a hit-and-run accident on the university campus.
The Stanford Department of Public Safety reported that the victim said the driver stared at him for a long time, then sped up, hit him, then drove away and yelled insults at him and his people from the car window. car.
The victim continued in a statement provided to ABC News, saying, “I never imagined becoming the victim of a hate attack. His screams of hate still ring in my ears.”
He also noted that his physical wounds will heal over time, but the emotional scars and feeling of being targeted solely because of his appearance, heritage and beliefs will persist.
He added that as he lay in his hospital bed, grappling with a reality he never imagined, he thought about the importance of spreading love, kindness and compassion in a world that seemed to be increasingly succumbing to hatred and prejudice.
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He underlined: “This ordeal has strengthened my resolve to stand for love, understanding and inclusion. I appeal to all who read this: let us collectively condemn hatred, intolerance and violence. Let us take the time to understand each other, celebrate our diversity and stand together against the forces that seek to divide us.” .
In turn, the California Highway Patrol indicated it responded to the hit-and-run crash at the university.
Although the CHP stated, based on its investigation and initial determinations, that the incident was a hate crime, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation to further examine the incident.
Stanford University President Richard Saller and Dean Jenny Martinez expressed their deep sadness at what happened, underlining the gravity of the situation.
Tension over Gaza
Interestingly, Stanford Police announced enhanced security measures on campus, explaining that the university continues to work to provide a safe environment on campus amid rising tensions related to events in Israel and Gaza.
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The victim reported that the driver was a white man in his mid-twenties with short blonde hair, a short beard and round glasses, according to University Police.
The suspect was driving a black Toyota 4Runner with an exposed tire mounted in the center rear and a Toyota logo in the center of the wheel.
The 4Runner had a white California license plate with the letters M and J, university police said, urging any witnesses to this crash to come forward and share any information they have with law enforcement.
Interestingly, such crimes have increased significantly recently, against the backdrop of the raging conflict between Israel and Hamas since October 7, which has put Jewish and Palestinian Muslim communities in the United States in a state of tension and fear.
This tension has also extended to some European countries, such as France and Belgium.