Pakistan-born US woman lawmaker assaulted after Eid prayers

Pakistan-born US lawmaker Rep. Maryam Khan of Connecticut was subjected to an attack following her attendance at Eidul Azha prayers in the state’s capital city of Hartford, American media outlets reported on Saturday.

According to The New York Times, law enforcement officials have apprehended a suspect in connection with the assault, which occurred on Wednesday and resulted in minor injuries for Maryam, who is both the first Muslim elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives and a member of the Democratic Party.

The report stated that the suspect, identified as Andrey Desmond, aged 30 and hailing from New Britain, Connecticut, was formally charged in state court on Thursday.

He faces charges including unlawful restraint, assault, breach of peace, and interfering with the police.

Desmond is being held on a $250,000 bond. The motive behind the attack has yet to be confirmed by the authorities.

As reported by The New York Times, citing information from the police, the assault took place around 11am outside the XL Centre, where the congregational prayers were held.

According to law enforcement officials, the suspect approached Maryam while she was taking photographs with her family outside the centre.

He made inappropriate comments and then attempted to prevent her from leaving before physically assaulting her.

NBC News also reported on the incident, stating that a bystander chased the suspect and detained him until the police arrived.

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Several individuals, including Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and Majority Leader Jason Rojas, have condemned the attack.

In a joint statement, they expressed their support for Maryam and her family, emphasising that the incident occurred on a day of peace and prayer.

Ritter, who had been in contact with Maryam since the assault, described it as a very frightening experience for her.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont also issued a statement, expressing his concern that such an incident took place on a holy day meant for peaceful prayers.

He assured the public that law enforcement personnel would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Farhan Memon, the head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Connecticut chapter, called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the possibility of a bias motive behind the attack.

Memon highlighted the need to ensure the safety of the Muslim community in Connecticut, particularly during the ongoing Eidul Azha celebrations.

He emphasised that American Muslims, or those perceived to be Muslim, were often targeted by hate crimes due to their appearance, race, or ethnicity.