Police: Man Curses at Muslim, Rips Off her Head Covering

A man who cursed at a Muslim woman and ripped off her head covering was being sought today for what Long Beach police called a hate crime.

The 32-year-old woman was loading items in her car around 4:30 p.m. on July 2 in a shopping center parking lot in the 4000 block of Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said. She was wearing a black hijab, which is worn by Muslim women to cover their hair and neck.

She was approached from behind by a man on foot who took hold of her hijab and cursed at her, referring to the hijab, McDonnell said.

The fact the suspect knew the word for the cover indicated he had some knowledge of Muslim culture, McDonnell said.

The man forcibly pulled and twisted the hijab, choking the woman and causing bruises and scratches on her neck, McDonnell said. He then walked through an alley near where she was parked, taking the hijab with him.

The woman was able to provide a description of the suspect and worked with detectives to create a composite sketch.

He was described as a man in his 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a thin build, short brown hair and brown eyes, and a trimmed brown mustache and beard. He was wearing a white buttoned-up shirt and black pants. His shoes may also have been black.

Long Beach police said they believe the attack was an isolated incident, with no other similar crimes having been reported. Police asked anyone who has been the victim of a similar crime to come forward.

"This incident occurred during the day in a busy shopping center and we are hoping that someone may have witnessed the encounter or saw the suspect leaving the area, and can provide us with additional information," McDonnell said.

"Crimes of this nature will not be tolerated in our city and we will continue our efforts to find the suspect and hold him accountable."

McDonnell also said hate crimes in particular are "not only a crime against the individual but against the whole community."

Salam Al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Affairs Council, said this victim from Iraq "decided she wanted to come to America because of the freedom. You can have Muslim women in head scarves and Orthodox Jewish women in head scarves and they are both walking down the same street."

An Orthodox Jewish woman who was wearing a head scarf, told ABC7 she was "quite surprised" by what had happened.

Anyone with information about the crime should call the Long Beach Police Department's Violent Crimes Detail at (562) 570-7250.

--City News Service