Post by : Rameen Ariff

A Texas woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to drown a 3-year-old Palestinian-American Muslim girl in an incident that police described as a hate crime driven by racial and religious bias.

The accused, identified as 43-year-old Elizabeth Wolf, was charged after the shocking incident that took place in May 2024 at an apartment swimming pool in Euless, Texas. According to court documents, Wolf pleaded guilty to attempted murder and injury to a child. She was sentenced by Judge Andy Porter after waiving her right to a jury trial.

Police reports revealed that Wolf approached the children’s mother at the pool, asking where she and her kids were from. Moments later, she tried to force the 3-year-old underwater and also attempted to grab the girl’s 6-year-old brother. Thankfully, the children’s mother managed to rescue her daughter, and both children were later examined and found to be safe.

The attack drew national outrage and was condemned by then-President Joe Biden, who called it a disturbing reminder of rising hate crimes in the United States. Human rights advocates have also linked this case to growing threats against American Muslims, Arabs, and Jews following the war in Gaza that began after the Hamas attack in 2023.

This case is part of a troubling pattern of bias-related violence in the U.S. In recent years, several high-profile incidents have raised alarm among minority communities. These include the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy in Illinois, the stabbing of a Palestinian-American man in Texas, and mob violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators in California.

Other cases include the shooting of two Israeli tourists in Florida after being mistaken for Palestinians, and violent assaults targeting Arab and Jewish communities in cities like New York and Washington. Advocates warn that such hate crimes highlight the urgent need for stronger protection and awareness.

The Texas sentencing has once again drawn attention to the growing problem of racial bias, religious intolerance, and anti-Muslim hate crimes in the United States. Community leaders continue to call for justice, unity, and stronger measures to combat racism and protect vulnerable groups.

#world news #Global News