UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township Police break language barriers and charge man with Ethnic Intimidation. On July 19th, Hadi Madkhali reported that his Muslim wife had been attacked at Meridian Mall after a group approached her and tried to rip off her ethnic attire. The wife, Hind Shamakhi, does not speak English which created challenges for Meridian Township Police to form a solid investigation.

Lieutenant of Meridian Township Police, Greg Frenger, says "We wanted to follow up on making sure we had a good identification on the individual and also a good statement from the victim. So we had an interpreter from MSU police to help us out and we did an identification process and firmed up our case."

Jonathan Deuel, a 29-year old Mason man was arrested by Mason Police on August 7th. Deuel faces charges of Ethnic Intimidation and Assault and Battery, a crime that carries a possible two year sentence.

A preliminary examination has been scheduled for August 21st.




ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - On July 19th, Hadi Madkhali reported that his wife was assaulted in broad daylight at Meridian Mall. Meridian Township Police arrived on the scene around 12:25pm.

Madkhali describes hearing a painful sound which was his wife, Hind Shamakhi, screaming for help. The Muslim couple live in East Lansing and contacted the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Two days later CAIR issue a press release.

Dawud Walid, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter (CAIR-MI) reports that, "she [Shamakhi] was approached by two males and one female in which they tried to rip off her abaya which is the long flowing black dress as well as her veil."

The case is an open investigation and the Meridian Township Police Department provided few details.

Lieutenant Greg Frenger says, "officers arrived and did an investigation and attempted to locate the individual that was suspected in this case but have not located that person yet."

Madkhali describes the event by saying he left his wife briefly to return a stroller the couple had rented for their young child when he heard a scream and say his wife being harassed.

CAIR call on law enforcement to investigate the alleged attack as a possible hate crime.

Walid adds, "There's no other rational reason why they would have approached her or tried to pull of those garments and yell expletives except for her very outwardly religious orientation."