The second abhorrent incident targeting members of our Connecticut Muslim community in as many weeks occured recently aboard a Hartford-bound commuter train out of New Haven. The verbal assault on Muslim family members was reported on the heels of State Representative Maryam Khan being viciously attacked on a Hartford street as she and other family members were exiting an Eid al-Adha prayer ceremony at the XL Center on June 28.

For anyone who may have missed reports on either incident, Rep Khan — the first elected Muslim member of the Connecticut House — was with her children and sister outside a downtown Hartford arena when the attack occurred. The 5' tall lawmaker told police her assailant grabbed her face to kiss her, put her in a headlock, then slapped and violently body-slammed her when she resisted, reportedly resulting in a concussion.

While her assailant is facing multiple charges after he fled and was chased down by passersby and arrested, the individual has not yet been charged with a hate crime.

The second incident involved a woman who was allegedly making “vile comments” to a Muslim mother and daughter, according to The Hartford Courant. This confrontation, which was recorded on video by one of the family members, also reportedly includes the intervention by a rail conductor who has since been commended by the Connecticut Department of Transportation for his proactive defense of the victimized riders.

These latest hostilities must not only be universally condemned, they can also serve as prompts for anyone in Newtown to take inventory of our own knowledge of and appreciation for members of the Muslim faith. Anyone who wants to learn more should know that Newtown is fortunate to include the Al Hedaya Islamic Center among its rich patchwork of destinations for faith worship and fellowship.

Founder Eman Beshtawii and other members of her family have been occasionally featured in The Newtown Bee. In a February 2017 feature, the people and the atmosphere inside the Mt Pleasant Road mosque were described as: Open. Inviting. Welcoming.

Sadly, that same feature recounts cruel and vile comments and bullying she and her children had been subject to, including what she described as a post-9/11 death threat.

Inside their small gathering place, Beshtawii reinforced the concept that guests would not find pressure to convert to the religion that claims nearly two billion devoted followers around the globe.

She gently explained that her Muslim orientation is “similar to most faiths in that we want people to learn about us. Read about us, and read what we believe.” And her humble invitation to readers is as welcoming today as it was then: “Come in,” she encouraged. “Get to know who we are.”

Today, according to the center’s website, the Al Hedaya community includes about 100 Muslim households from Arabian, African, European, US, Central and South American, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Indonesian, and South Asian origins. Its ethnic and national diversity is said to reflect our community’s rich cultural heritage and Islam’s enduring message of moderation, peace and justice.

As our Muslim community members and neighbors continue to be confronted with reports of recurring attacks and verbal assaults right here in Connecticut, we hope more Newtown residents will consider honoring the invitation to experience the center’s hospitality — or at least visit them virtually at hedayacenter.org — with the hope of inspiring greater knowledge, acceptance, and allyship with our Muslim neighbors.