LAST UPDATE | 20 Aug 2019
GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING an assault in which a Muslim teenager was egged, physically assaulted and allegedly had her hijab removed by a gang of teenagers in Dundrum, south Dublin have appealed for witnesses.
The incident happened in Dundrum village on Sunday afternoon, close to the shopping centre.
A video was shared online showing the young woman being attacked. At one point, the victim is forced to the ground and is kicked.
The teenager was also hit with a number of eggs.
The person who shared the video online claims to be the victim’s sister. The uploader said that the attack was unprovoked and that her sister’s hijab was removed during the incident.
A number of faces of the people involved are clearly identifiable and TheJournal.ie understands gardaí have been made aware of the video.
A spokesperson said: Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances of a number of incidents, including public order and theft, on Main Street Dundrum on the afternoon of Sunday August 18th 2019 involving a group of youths – females and males.
“One incident involves an alleged report of assault on a female which is circulating on social media.”
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information or anyone with mobile phone footage or dash cam footage to contact Dundrum Garda Station on 01 666 5600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
“The investigation will determine the motive behind these incidents,” the spokesperson said. “At this time the incidents are not believed to be racially motivated. Investigations are continuing.”
In a statement this evening, the Muslim Sisters of Éire said: “We, the Muslim Sisters of Eire, condemn the indiscriminate attacks on the young Muslim girls in the Dundrum area.
“The Luas stop is not far from the Dundrum Shopping Center, where pedestrians and foot traffic move by. With little to no intervention, the young women received no compassion or assistance from passers by.”
“We believe that these horrendous and inhumane attacks are against all human and moral values and are crimes that cannot be justified under any circumstances,” they added.
Fine Gael Minister, and local TD for the area, Josepha Madigan said she hopes the perpetrators of this crime are brought to justice swiftly.
She said: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the assault on a Muslim girl who had her hijab taken from her in Dundrum village yesterday. I hope the perpetrators are brought to justice quickly.”
Head of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, also denounced the assault today.
He tweeted: “There are real consequences to a toxic discourse which stokes up division & hate. And they are often most suffered by those who are the targets of such hate, not its perpetrators. We must be better than this.”
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