Connecticut Man in Custody after Making Derogatory Comments to Mosque Congregants

IQNA – A man was arrested in Stamford, US state of Connecticut, after making derogatory remarks toward worshippers outside a local mosque last week.

The incident happened on Sunday at the Islamic Center on the city’s Washington Boulevard.

Michael Slocum, 36, allegedly stopped in front of the center and made derogatory statements to several congregants.

Slocum was arrested on Tuesday and charged with second degree breach of peace and is expected to appear in court on Aug. 26.

Muslim rights advocates had called for the incident to be treated as a potential hate crime.

 “This was a deliberate and targeted verbal assault meant to intimidate Muslim families, including children, as they peacefully left their house of worship,” said Chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Farhan Memon.

“We call on law enforcement authorities to take this incident seriously and to send the message that hate and bias-motivated harassment have no place in Connecticut,” he said in a statement posted to Facebook alongside video of the incident.

Source: wtnh.com