Islamic Center And Pittsburgh Police Form Joint Commitment
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Not long after a Muslim cab driver was shot in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is making an active effort to develop trust-based relationships with Pittsburgh's Islamic communities
Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay now confirms the Thanksgiving night shooting of a Muslim cab driver is being investigated as a possible hate crime. The 38-year-old was shot in the back after dropping off a man he picked up at Rivers Casino. The victim told investigators the man questioned him about his Muslim beliefs and his thoughts about ISIS. 26-year-old Anthony Mohamed was later arrested and charged with attempted homicide.
Saturday night, Chief McLay, along with leaders of the Muslim community, announced a new joint commitment between the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh (ICP) and the Bureau of Police. McLay says it's an effort to better understand and combat culturally and racially motivated crimes. A representative from the Mayor's staff and the Department of Public safety will have liaison roles with the ICP, and the initiative involves new training protocol for officers.
Shazia Ahmad and her daughter attended the news conference. She says recent global events involving Islamic extremists have also led to discrimination.
"We do feel uncomfortable going outside talking to people, like people are staring at you," she said. "Sometimes they do make comments. I'm happy to hear they are doing this."
ICP Executive Director Wasi Mohamed told KDKA's Kym Gable, "It's actually becoming mainstream to be Islamophobic, which is really worrying, and it's escalated into an act of violence we can't believe happened in Pittsburgh."
Mohamed said his organization immediately thought the shooting was a hate crime.
"We were outraged, but it's really out of a lot of fear," he said.
Chief McLay later elaborated on the new training initiatives.
"We're going to bring that training into my command staff so we develop the relationships with ICP and other Muslim groups but also bring in some training just for my officers to understand the subtleties of the culture," he said.
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