DIASPORA—Rahma Warsame, a Somali woman living in Columbus, Ohio, was brutally attacked after coming to the defense of another Muslim woman who was being racially harassed by a white supremacist.
According to Warsame, the attacker shouted, “you all will be shipped back to Africa” at her before beating her. She stated that the assailant was interviewed by police officers following the incident but later released, reports Carbonated TV.
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Warsame suffered extensive injuries, including missing teeth, and severe facial fractures. She is currently being treated at Riverside Hospital, Columbus, Ohio—where she also works.
The Council on American-Islam Eelations (CAIR-Columbus) has taken on the legal proceedings of the case and have denounced the attack as a clear hate crime, reports Telesur.
“The fact that the perpetrator was not taken into custody and was not charged raises serious concerns and sends a very dangerous message,” said Jennifer Nimer, executive director of CAIR-Columbus and one of Warsame's attorneys.
“After what happened last week in Portland, police across the country should be sending a strong message that hate crimes will not be tolerated. We are asking law enforcement to investigate this as a hate crime and to bring the perpetrator to justice immediately before he commits another act of violence.”
A crowdfunding campaign has been started to help her with medical costs and the support of her 12 year old son.
Police are leading an investigation into the incident.