Gardaí in Dublin are investigating after a Muslim teenager was subjected to a horrifying assault while having her hijab removed by a gang of teenagers in the south-side village of Dundrum on Sunday afternoon, not far from the Dundrum town centre complex.
In a now widely viewed online video the the victim is forced to the ground and kicked on several occasions while hit with a number of eggs.
The accompanying video message suggested that the attack was entirely unprovoked and that her hijab was removed during the incident.
Several of the alleged assailants are clearly identifiable and its reported that local gardaí have been made aware of the video and have launched a full investigation.
The victim of the apparent assault can be heard crying, while a broken egg and its shell are visible on the ground. Gardaí confirmed their intentions.
“Gardaí are investigating an alleged minor assault of a female in her teens, which occurred on Sunday 18th August 2019 at approximately 15:30 on Main Street, Dundrum.”
Fine Gael Minister Josepha Madigan said she hopes the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice swiftly. ” I condemn in the strongest possible terms the assault on a Muslim girl who had her hijab taken from her in Dundrum village yesterday. I hope the perpetrators are brought to justice quickly.”
However Dr. Ali Selim, the prominent Irish-based Islamic Expert and Trinity college lecturer says it is an outright hate crime and called for a change in the legistlation.
”It was a crime against this girl’s religious identity as well as the long cherished Irish norm of cohesiveness. It was a hate crime and there is a desperate need now for a hate crime legislation. Something we did not need in the past but the current diversity of the Irish society makes it a must.”
A Muslim girl and her cousin were assaulted in Dundrum today. They ripped off her hijab and pelted them with eggs. These scumbag attackers need to be brought into the public eye. pic.twitter.com/aElFvlrN7Q
— aindriú (@BreadShaped) August 20, 2019
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the assault on a Muslim girl who had her hijab taken from her in Dundrum village yesterday. I hope the perpetrators are brought to justice quickly. https://t.co/NRGaZS9oHs
— Josepha Madigan ⚖️✨ (@josephamadigan) August 20, 2019
The attack happened outside Irene's florist. If I were a journo investigating this, I'd call into premises with security cams along Dundrum's Main St. and to Dundrum Village XL, where the dozen egg pack may have been purchased. Four of them wore distinctive clothes. pic.twitter.com/6JqLJoHDqI
— Malachy Browne (@malachybrowne) August 20, 2019
