A Connecticut politician and her family were attacked outside an Islamic prayer service in downtown Hartford on Wednesday morning, according to a report.
State Representative Maryam Khan, D-Hartford, was with her three children, her sister, and a friend at the XL Center for Eid-al-Adha prayers when a man grabbed, hit and pushed the lawmaker to the ground before running off outside of the arena.
The man, later identified as 30-year-old Andrey Desmond, made obscene and vulgar remarks at the group before physically attacking Khan, according to a press release by Connecticut Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Khan, 35, her sister, and her 15-year-old daughter were wearing their religious head scarves, or hijabs, according to the statement.
A worshipper who saw the altercation chased and held Desmond down until police arrived.
Hartford Police arrested and charged Desmond with unlawful restraint 2nd degree, assault 3rd degree, breach of peace 2nd degree, and interfering with police, according to WFSB.
Khan has not acknowledged the attack on social media, and a request for comment by The Post was not immediately answered.
The outlet reported Khan suffered minor scratches and bruises.
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, demanded a probe into a possible motive for the attack, asking why the large event did not have proper security.
“We urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this attack and to ensure the safety of the Connecticut Muslim community during the ongoing Eid al-Adha celebrations,” Connecticut CAIR Chair Farhan Memon said.
“All too often we have seen American Muslims, or those perceived to be Muslim, targeted by hate because of their attire, race or ethnicity,” Memon added.
Khan, 33, was first elected to the state house in March 2022, winning a special election with over 75% of the vote, and later was later re-elected in the November general election.
The Pakistani-born lawmaker is the first Muslim member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and only the second elected to the state’s General Assembly behind Senator Saud Anwar.
In a joint statement, Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas said they were notified of the attack and State and City police were working together through the investigation.
“We know Rep. Maryam Khan was attacked and injured today outside the Eid-al-Adha prayer ceremony at the XL Center in Hartford,” The lawmakers said. “We currently do not have details of the assault and will hold off on commenting further until we do. State Capitol Police have assured us they will work with Hartford Police to conduct a full and thorough investigation.”
“It is especially painful that Rep. Khan was attacked on a holy day of peace and prayer. On a day she should be spending with her friends and family,” the statement read. “Rep. Khan is an amazing leader and person who is committed to faith love and service- we are sending our well-wishes and support tonight to Maryam and her family.”
Eid-al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is the largest of the two main holidays in Islam and is often celebrated with prayer, giving small gifts to children and feeding the needy.