A New York police officer has gained widespread support after she was attacked in a religiously motivated incident.
Brooklyn-born Aml Elsokary, who has served for 11 years in her local force, was menaced at the weekend while off-duty. The episode happened when the hijab-wearing policewoman stepped in after a man began a dispute with her 16-year-old son.
Elsokary, who had previously been applauded as a hero for saving a baby from a burning building, was then told "ISIS [expletive], I will cut your throat, go back to your country."
The man responsible for this islamophobic attack has since been arrested and charged with a hate crime.
New York’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio, has expressed his condemnation of the incident, saying "This is her country, she is an American, she is a New Yorker, and this is her home. We cannot allow this hatred and bias to spread."
Officer Aml Elsokary – one of 900 Muslim-Americans in the NYPD – was attacked because of her faith. We stand with her. #AlwaysNewYork pic.twitter.com/ahDEXy0XU9
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 5, 2016
Social media was flooded with words of solidarity for the decorated officer:
@NYCMayor @JoyAnnReid @NYPDnews I hope these cowards are arrested and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
— Nicholas Whaley (@nicholas_whaley) December 6, 2016
@NYCMayor @wcsek @NYPDnews
Indeed, thank you for your service. Know you have the support of many.— Cyn seda (@Cynsed) December 6, 2016
@NYCMayor @NYPDnews sweetheart I feel your pain you're not alone I stand by you %. God Bless you God keep you!!!!!
— Sam Brandon (@Sbrand5691) December 6, 2016
@NYCMayor @NYPDnews what else are you doing aside from standing with her? Real steps. Statements of solidarity w/no action don't help. So?
— joseph m. azam (@JosephAzam) December 5, 2016
Many suggested that the election of Donald Trump to the American presidency was fueling such incidents:
@NYCMayor @JoyAnnReid @NYPDnews Thank you "President" "Elect" Trump for promoting hatred and bigotry in America! Make America Hate Again!
— Tom Shubert (@TomShubert) December 6, 2016
Certainly, there has been a spike in hate crimes since Trump was elected last month. Last week mosques in California received threatening hate mail from Trump supporters, and there have been multiple incidents reported of women having their hijabs pulled from their heads. A Muslim woman was recently called a “terrorist” and pushed down the stairs in New York.
The President-elect himself has previously suggested that he thinks “Islam hates us”, and said he would “absolutely” create a database of Muslims living in America.
As for Elsokary, she said at a press conference on Monday that "I help everybody no matter what your religion is. I'm born and raised here and I am here to protect you all."
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