World

Woman’s face smashed with beer mug at US restaurant for 'not speaking English'

Victim was speaking in Swahili when she was brutally attacked by another woman

Web Desk November 10, 2015

Asma Jama PHOTO: IN SOLIDARITY WITH ASMA

A Muslim woman was brutally attacked with a beer mug at a Minnesota restaurant in the Unites States allegedly for not speaking in English.

"Somebody hit me because I was speaking a different language. I can’t believe after all these years, somebody hit me because I'm different," Asma Jama told Minnesota Public Radio News of her experience.

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An ethnic Somali, Jama, who came to the US from Kenya in 2000, had been speaking to her family in Swahili, one of three languages she speaks, at an Applebee's on October 30 when another woman in a nearby booth smashed a beer mug in her face. Jama was left with cuts on her face and a deep gash on her lip that required 17 stiches.

According to MPR News, Jama said her attacker, Jodie Burchard-Risch, and her husband told her to “go home” and that “when you're in America you should speak English”.

"I'm home," she told Burchard-Risch. "I can speak English, but we choose to speak whatever language we want."

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Jama, who was left traumatised after the attack and doesn't feel safe leaving her house alone, said, “I'm actually thinking about moving out of Minnesota. I'm scared for my life. I don't feel comfortable here anymore." Jama said.

Burchard-Risch was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with third-degree assault. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for hate crime charges.

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A criminal report alleges that Burchard-Risch was upset that the victim was speaking in a foreign language and refused to leave when the restaurant manager tried to intervene. She then threw a drink at Jama and smashed the beer mug in her face before running away, Associated Press reported. Burchard-Risch is scheduled to return to court on December 7.

GO FUND ME

Meanwhile, an account was created on a fundraising website Go Fund Me to raise money for Jama's medical expenses. As of now, over $10, 000 have been raised.

This article originally appeared on Huffington Post

COMMENTS (22)

PakUSA | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: Great comments Amanda. So whenever you go to a foreign country you only speak their language? German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portugese, even when speaking to your family? Wow, didn't know you were that smart. My advise to you for next time you feel uncomfortable, mind your own business and you will be fine.

saddly | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: butoo pincha, chuup mi waavos......you need help and self confidence.

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Aly | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: So when you go to a foreign country, I'm assuming you learn the language completely, enough to hold conversations with native people? Because that's what you expect everyone else to do.

D | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: Please don't go to countries that don't use your language as their 1st language otherwise you should feel kind of stupid for saying what u said don't u. Don't blame other people that can speak multi languages cause I'm sure they are far more clever than u r.

chekac8 | 9 years ago | Reply This only proves multi culture does not work. We are not wired to live with different race. In good time, we can accept different race. When there is tension, people of same race get togehter. Country is to separate races so each race can live together in the same culture. Now the whole world is big melting pot, no wonder there are so many conflicts.

Lena | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: Nope, that's not how it works. In a free country anyone can speak what language they wish to speak, and if it makes you uncomfortable, then get over it. That's the -point- of a free country. If you want to live in a place that's tightly controlled and forces everyone to be a certain way, I'd suggest you move to North Korea.

P | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: you are what is wrong with the modern multicultural world. you, and people who smash people's faces because they are different. you, and people who spread hatred for all things different, you, and people who use violence and inhumanity to raise divisions between groups... try some love and acceptance once in a while - the world might just be a better place.

Multi-Culturalist | 9 years ago | Reply What kind of a stupid logic is that? As she stated herself, she can speak English and she probably talks in English to her American friends. And even if she didn't speak a word of English, it does not justify violence. Besides, if she was a European person speaking a European language nobody would have blinked an eye, so that's some racism here. I'm German and I live currently in Rome. So by your standards, if my family visits me here I am not allowed to talk in German to them?! Wtf?

Rachael Appold | 9 years ago | Reply @hari: That's extremely racist and Islamophobic. She can dress however she wants and no rational person has a legitimate reason to believe that anyone speaking another language is planning a terrorist attack. Don't baby the perps; they knew what they were doing was wrong. They deserve for the book to be thrown at them.

prabhjyot singh madan | 9 years ago | Reply @Vinod chauhan: It is highly disrespectful and a crime to hit a poor lady like that. She was a Somali, so what, the country is a failed state. Have some respect for her, our issue is Pakistani policies and army not against Islam. Rab rakha

Vinod chauhan | 9 years ago | Reply @zoro: She can always wear niqab

Rameez | 9 years ago | Reply @Amanda: There are people in Germany from England who are always talking to each other in English. Absolutely disgusting and disrespectful! They should pack their bags and return to wherever they care from...Got my point?

Dave | 9 years ago | Reply I was wondering the same thing, Deb. I think we're in the stupid zone.

Amanda | 9 years ago | Reply At my work place there are People from Spain talking about other girls in Spanish and we understand sheat all... makes me feel uncomfortable, I'm foreigner myself and I think it is absolutely disgusting and disrespectful. I have asked few times to speak in English... but they ignored it. It is England and by coming here you agreed to respect others and traditions etc. If not then pack your suitcase and go where you can speak your language as much as you want if you cant go on compromise ;) - Amanda

Deb | 9 years ago | Reply I don't know if some of these comments are being sarcastic or trolling.

hari | 9 years ago | Reply Poor man, must have feared a terrorist attack and thought she is telling to blast the place in an unknown tongue. Her attire didn't help either!

Tim | 9 years ago | Reply zoro - Yes it has been confirmed, a simple web search will tell you that!!

Re | 9 years ago | Reply The result of demonizing a religion in a very 'civilized' country

Rob | 9 years ago | Reply @G. Din: Christianity comes from the Middle East too. Anyway, religious fanatics are idiotic- Christian or Muslim or Jewish or whatever. Hitting someone for speaking another language? People need to stay out of other people's personal conversations. It shouldn't matter what someone else does so long as it doesn't threaten you.

zoro | 9 years ago | Reply @curious2: Is this incidence confirmed ??? Or this is the collection for terrorist in disguise ???

curious2 | 9 years ago | Reply Meanwhile, an account was created on a fundraising website Go Fund Me to raise money for Jama’s medical expenses. As of now, over $10, 000 have been raised. . Nice!

G. Din | 9 years ago | Reply If such a thing has happened in Minnesota, imagine what Muslims are in for in the Bible belt of the US of A. It is time for the world to roll back Islam to its original moorings - the Great Arabian Desert.

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