Nabra Hassanen
Nabra Hassanen was leaving IHOP and returning to her mosque with a group of friends after breaking their fast during the early morning hours on Sunday, June 18th. During this holy month of Ramadan, Muslims will fast from dawn until dusk and practice self-restraint, reflection, empathy for those impoverished, as well as pray and read the Quran. As Nabra and a group of her friends were returning to the mosque, a man pulled his car up beside the group and began arguing with one of the males in the group. The man later known as Darwin Martinez Torres, then pulled his car up onto the curve causing the group of teens to scatter. Torres chased them down in his car and then got out again but this time with a bat. It is at this time that Nabra was hit with the bat and taken by Torres to another location, assaulted again and murdered. The surviving teens raced back to the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) and raised the alarm bells of Nabra’s abduction. The next day police found her body in a man made pond a few miles from the initial incident.
Since Sunday many around the country were shocked and angered when the police classified this as a “road rage incident.” Many believe that this is a cut and dry instance of a hate crime. However, while examining the criteria for an incident to be classified as a hate crime you’ll notice the rigid perimeters that the incident in question must fit in. Virginia law defines a hate crime, in part, as a criminal act committed with the intention of instilling fear in someone because of his or her race, religion or ethnic origin. After Nabra’s death, friends and family held a memorial for the 17-year-old in Dupont Circle, where a South Carolina man set the loving celebration of life aflame. This instance was again ruled not to be racially motivated.
Starting with 9/11, hate crimes against the Islamic community have been on the rise however with recent terrorist attacks by ISIS across the globe and anti-Muslim rhetoric, these numbers have soared. Reports by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) found that between 2014 and 2016, anti-Muslim bias increased by 65% and that hate crimes targeting Muslims surged 584%. Five hundred eighty-four percent. Let that sink in. Since the recent election of Donald Trump CAIR has reported that the number of incidents Islamophobia involving US Customs and Border Protection has increased 1,000%. One thousand percent. Though many Americans are told that those who practice Islam are dangerous, statistics show that we are seven times more likely to be killed by right-wing extremists than those driven by “Islam.” I say that in quotations because the people perpetrating these crimes do not represent the foundations and majority of this religion. Just as the Westboro Baptist Church does not reflect the foundation of Christianity as well as the many others who have killed others in the “name of Jesus.”
One of my favorite verses on this topic is Matthew 7:3, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” How can we as Christians spew hate, intolerance, and judge people who may be different than us when God tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves, treat others as we would want to be treated, and to welcome aliens into our country? Why have we all but blocked out the love and tolerance that God commands us to have? How can we be so hateful towards a community that is being systematically murdered and oppressed?
At this time may we pray for peace and comfort for Nabra’s family. May we be an ally to those who are facing hate and discrimination no matter their race, sexuality, ethnicity or religion. May we truly love one another as we love ourselves.
Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than this.
Mark 12:31
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