Muslim couple harassed in Portland, told 'go back to your country'

Warning: Graphic language

A Muslim couple was harassed in Northeast Portland Friday by a man who allegedly shouted at them to "go back to your f—ing country" before making hand gestures that resembled him pulling the trigger on a handgun, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said.

Part of the incident occurred near the corner of Northeast 102nd Avenue and Glisan Street, CAIR-Oregon committee member Zakir Khan told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

"Given the recent deadly attack in Portland, we urge the mayor and local law enforcement authorities to swiftly apprehend the alleged perpetrator and to bring any appropriate hate crime charges," Khan said in a news release.

Portland Police Bureau spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson said a report has been filed by the victim and that the incident is under investigation by biased crime unit detectives.

The incident came in the week following the fatal stabbing of two men on a MAX train by a man who had allegedly barked racial slurs at two teenage girls, one of whom was wearing a hijab.

Simpson said the bureau couldn't offer details because of the ongoing investigation but that police have been in touch with CAIR.

--Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344
@edercampuzano
ecampuzano@oregonian.com

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