Group Attack on Three Afghan Schoolgirls in Texas

Three Afghan schoolgirls in the state of Texas, USA, were targeted in a group attack by other students. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the incident as a violation of human rights and has called for immediate action from educational authorities.
According to CAIR, the attack occurred on Monday (March 3) at “Pell River” middle school in Houston. The three students were reportedly sitting in the cafeteria during lunch when approximately 20 other students launched an attack on them.

During the assault, the attackers surrounded the girls and severely beat them. Sources say that a pencil was also used as a weapon in the attack.

One of the girls was hospitalized for four days due to the severity of her injuries and is now wearing a neck brace. She continues to struggle with both physical and psychological trauma.

The families of the Afghan students stated that their children were targeted because of their hijabs and ethnic background. They believe that the incident was rooted in racial prejudice and hostility.

However, the school administration has refused to respond to the families and has even declined to transfer the students to a safe location. CAIR has reported that in one case, after the transfer of one student was approved, the decision was reversed without any explanation.

William White, head of CAIR in Houston, called the situation unacceptable, stating: “These students have not only been the victims of violence, but the educational system has failed to protect them.” He added that these students came to the USA with hopes for safety, but their human rights have now been violated.

The organization has urged the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to transfer the three students to a safe place immediately, conduct an independent investigation into the incident, and hold the perpetrators accountable. Additionally, CAIR has called for the provision of psychological services for the victims and the creation of policies to combat discrimination and violence in schools.

This incident comes at a time when, according to CAIR, Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in the United States are at their highest levels. In response to such incidents, CAIR has provided special guidance for Muslim students and their families to help them defend themselves against discrimination and harassment in schools.