June 29, 2023
The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut strongly condemns the physical and verbal assault on Connecticut State Representative Maryam Khan outside the Eid al Adha prayer service at the XL Center in Hartford on June 28, 2023. We call upon law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of this crime and of the cowardly attacker who grievously harmed Representative Khan in front of her children on the holiest of Muslim holidays.
As an organization whose mission is service to the Connecticut community and education about Islam, we express our fervent support for Representative Khan and her family who have suffered this outrage. We vow our continued support for her and her family, and our solidarity with all who have been viciously harmed based on their identity. We urge that members of all faith communities stand up and work for justice for all and we appreciate the expressions of support we have received from individuals and organizations.
Furthermore, we encourage our elected officials, police departments, and the larger community to increase awareness and protection of the Connecticut Muslim community as attacks and hate crimes against us as a religious minority have been steadily on the rise.
We assert that violence, hate, and lack of respect for basic human and civil rights have no place in our American society. We stand firmly for democratic values, dignity and respect for the rights of all human beings to live free from fear of attack based on any and all identities be they racial, ethnic, religious, or gender. We express our solidarity with all marginalized and oppressed groups here and abroad.
We pray that the God of all of us protect us from harm and grow love and compassion in our hearts.
Muslim Coalition of Connecticut