Muslim state rep assaulted in possible hate crime in Connecticut: report

Connecticut's first Muslim state representative was assaulted during an Eid-al-Adha ceremony in Hartford — and the suspect, now in custody, faces a laundry list of charges, reported Patch on Thursday.

"According to several reports, state Rep. Maryam Khan, D-Windsor, was physically and verbally attacked in an incident that has the Connecticut chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for a hate-crime investigation," reported Michael Lemanski. "Reportedly, the suspect approached Khan's group, made vulgar and obscene remarks and then grabbed and struck Khan before throwing her to the ground, according to WFSB Channel 3."

Andrey Desmond, 30, of New Britain, was charged with unlawful restraint, assault, breach of peace and interfering with police, the report said.

The attack also targeted Khan's sister, a female friend and Khan's three children, the report said.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont spoke out about the incident on Twitter: "My heart is with Rep. Maryam Khan, who was attacked today after attending Eid al-Adha services with her family. It's disturbing to me that this happened on a holy day meant to be marked with peaceful prayer ... I'm keeping her and her loved ones in my thoughts."

Anti-Muslim discrimination, which has always existed in the United States but kicked into high gear after the September 11 terrorist attacks over two decades ago, has been behind some high-profile incidents in recent years.

Earlier this year, for instance, DuPage Township, Illinois trustee Reem Townsend was subject to abuse from local residents after they realized she was fasting for Ramadan, with one even calling her a "suicide bomber" during a town meeting.