Hate crime charges filed after Muslim man beaten

An attack on a Muslim man in New York, which the victim captured on video, will be prosecuted as a hate crime, District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Monday.

34-year-old David Grinblat is accused of repeatedly throwing his victim into the ground and making anti-Islamic remarks.

The New York Post identified the victim as Sheharyar Ali Kazmi, 25, who followed the alleged attacker and filmed him with his cellphone. The man he was following eventually stopped and attacked Kazmi while being filmed. Kazmi provided his video to the Post.

According to Reuters, Kazmi accused his attacker of calling him a “terrorist” and saying he wanted “the death of Muslims.”

Kazmi suffered cuts to his ear and swelling and pain to his face and ears. It happened on August 5 in Midtown when he said he was on the phone. Kazmi followed the man into a subway station when the man continued his attack on him.

Grinblat was arrested at home three days later. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

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