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A headmaster at the German-Arab Ibn Khaldun School in berlin, Hudhaifa Al-Mashhadani, was physically assaulted on a Berlin U-Bahn (subway) train on Friday, November 15, 2024. The attack,which is being investigated as a potential hate crime,has drawn condemnation from BerlinS governing mayor and expressions of solidarity from German-Arab organizations.
Details of the Attack
According to a detailed account posted on al-Mashhadani’s Facebook page, the incident occurred between 10:40 a.m. and 11:13 a.m. on the U7 line as the train approached a station. al-Mashhadani was forcefully pushed from behind by an unknown assailant. He was able to avoid a possibly life-threatening fall due to a rapid reaction.
The perpetrator reportedly made a “killing gesture and the gesture ‘We are watching you'” towards Al-Mashhadani. The attacker was described as wearing a long black coat and a red Palestinian keffiyeh, a customary Middle Eastern headdress.
condemnation and Support
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner strongly condemned the attack,stating on X (formerly Twitter),”The timid attack on Prof. Dr. Hudhaifa Al-Mashhadani shocks me deeply and I condemn this cowardly act in the strongest terms.” https://twitter.com/KaiWegner
A joint statement was released by the German-Arab Ibn Khaldun School, the German-Arab Council, and supporting Arab, Kurdish, and Jewish associations in Germany, expressing “unrestricted solidarity” with Al-Mashhadani. The signatories also urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and apprehend the perpetrator.
Background on Hudhaifa Al-Mashhadani
Hudhaifa Al-Mashhadani is known as a critic of islamist networks and a proponent of Arab-israeli dialog. The Ibn Khaldun School, under his leadership, focuses on providing a German education with an emphasis on arabic language and culture. The school has previously been the target of criticism and controversy from some groups due to its perceived stance on Middle Eastern politics. https://www.ibn-khaldun-schule.de/
Investigation Underway
Berlin police have confirmed they are investigating the incident as a suspected assault and are considering the possibility of a politically motivated crime. Authorities are reviewing security footage and appealing for witnesses to come forward. As of November 16, 2024, the perpetrator remains at large.
Key Takeaways
* Hudhaifa Al-Mashhadani, headmaster of the German-Arab Ibn Khaldun School in Berlin, was assaulted on a subway train.
* The attack is being investigated as a potential hate crime.
* The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and expressions of support for Al-Mashhadani.
* The perpetrator remains at large,and police are actively investigating.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details becomes available.