A disturbing incident at a Waterbury middle school has sparked concerns over religious intolerance after twin sisters were allegedly assaulted due to their Muslim faith. The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for immediate action following the attack.
The 14-year-old sisters, who recently relocated from Egypt, are seventh-grade students at Wallace Middle School. According to CAIR, the attack occurred on Monday, March 3, when the sisters were physically assaulted, and their hijabs were forcibly removed.
“One of the girls suffered a punch to the face, resulting in facial bruises and a bloody nose, while the other sustained neck injuries, including contusions and scrapes,” stated Farhan Memon, chairperson of CAIR Connecticut.
Waterbury police confirmed that a school resource officer responded to an altercation involving four female seventh-graders. Authorities noted that two students suffered minor injuries but did not require medical attention. However, CAIR asserts that the victims were taken to the hospital due to the severity of their injuries and are now fearful of returning to school.
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“This isn’t an isolated incident,” Memon emphasized. “We have received multiple reports from parents whose daughters have experienced similar harassment, including having their headscarves pulled off. This pattern of targeted attacks against Muslim students needs to be addressed at all levels of Waterbury’s school and city administration.”
Sumaya Syed, a sixth-grade student at Wallace Middle School, expressed her distress upon hearing about the assault. “I was really shocked. I don’t understand why people are targeting Muslims,” she said. “Sometimes, I feel nervous going to school, but I find comfort in knowing I can talk to teachers and principals.”
Her father, Fahd Syed, who serves as the head of Waterbury’s Human Rights Commission, recounted similar incidents his own children have faced. “This has been happening for generations. After 9/11, my generation faced this discrimination, and now my daughter’s generation is going through the same thing,” he said. “This is not just a random act—it’s a recurring issue targeting Muslim individuals, and we demand change.”
CAIR is urging the Waterbury school district to take concrete steps, including holding those responsible for the attack accountable, strengthening anti-bullying initiatives, and implementing comprehensive training for students and staff to prevent future incidents. Additionally, they are requesting a safety plan to ensure the well-being of the victims upon their return to school.
“By law, the school is required to provide a safety plan for these students,” Memon explained. “We have requested an urgent meeting with school officials and the victims’ parents to discuss the measures being put in place to protect them. We need clear solutions—how will the district ensure this does not happen again?”
Despite repeated inquiries, the school district has not provided a comment on the incident.
CAIR has announced that it will release its annual civil rights report on Tuesday, highlighting a concerning increase in Islamophobic incidents. The organization notes that these troubling trends have reached levels not seen since its establishment 30 years ago.
