CAIR calls for state and federal investigation into alleged hate crime against Euless

EULESS — The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on state and federal authorities to investigate the incidents at an apartment complex in Euless as hate crimes.

42-year-old Elizabeth Wolf is accused Attempt to drown a three-year-old girl in an apartment pool after making racist comments toward her mother in May.

A Palestinian mother who wears a hijab (an Islamic headscarf) told investigators in May that Wolf made racially charged comments about her in the condominium’s swimming pool and then tried to drown her 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.

The mother has not disclosed her name at this time because she fears for her safety.

Wolf was arrested for public intoxication at the time of the incident and was later charged with attempted felony assault and battery on a child. Wolf was released from jail on bail within a day.

In Saturday’s press conference, CAIR said the family was traumatized and set up a GoFundMe page for them.

Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the CAIR DFW chapter, says the organization would like to see certain actions taken by state and federal investigators in this case.

“We call for an investigation into hate crimes, higher bail and an open dialogue with authorities to counter this alarming rise in Islamophobia,” Carroll said.

Carroll read a statement from the mother at the press conference.

“My daughter is traumatized,” the mother wrote. “Every time I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides. She tells me she’s afraid the lady might come back in and put her head in the water.”

The nonprofit said it helped the family get counseling.

“They are emotionally torn. I actually tried to ask them if they could come today, but they are afraid to even show themselves in public. They are really struggling,” Carroll read.

Democratic state Rep. Salma Bhojani represents part of Euless and immigrated to the United States from Pakistan as a teenager.

“Hate against one community is hate against all of us,” said Bhojani. “I am shocked and appalled by this allegedly racist, Islamophobic incident that took place in my city. Hate has no place in Euless.”

Euless police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call police.

Investigators believe racial bias plays a role in the case and have referred the case to the Tarrant County District Attorney.