A 12-year-old boy was charged with a hate crime after beating and kicking a fellow sixth grade Muslim classmate and attempted to take off her head scarf, or hijab, police said Thursday. The boy allegedly tried to tear off the girl's hijab while beating and kicking her at school, asking her “are you a Muslim?” at their public school in Staten Island, New York. The boy faces charges of assault and harassment as part of a hate crime, and if found guilty, he could face up to 18 months in a juvenile facility. Police said this was not the first time the boy harassed his classmate, rather it was the fifth incident in recent months. The girl was left with bruises and a cut lip. “At about 1 p.m. yesterday, a male student was arrested for assault and aggravated harassment of a female student,” said the city's education department spokeswoman. The boy, identified as Osman Daramy, and who has a Muslim mother, reportedly attacked the girl two months ago behind the school building with the help of another girl and punched her and also tried to rip off her hijab. The harassment resumed a few weeks ago, according to prosecutors. The New York Post reported a prosecutor saying that the the boy told the girl during one of his assaults: “Aren't you the Muslim girl we beat up? We'll beat you up again.” Teresa Wilson, Assistant District Attorney called the boy “a public-safety risk” while addressing a Staten Island Family Court on Thursday. The family court judge decided to not release the boy on bail because the evidence shows that he could commit another crime until his next court appearance on Tuesday, the NYP reported. BM
