Muslim Teen Beaten in Hamilton

This incident occurred on Saturday and we're still learning more details, but considering the political climate and the escalation of racially based vandalism, harassment, and assaults since November 8, we can't help thinking that this is likely also motivated by hatred:

Muslim teen left with brain blood clot after brutal beating 

Hamilton teen's family questioning if incident was a hate crime
By Adam Carter, CBC News Posted: Nov 30, 2016 2:37 PM ET Last Updated: Nov 30, 2016 2:45 PM ET 

Noah Rabbani was just trying to get home from a friend's house overnight on Saturday — but ended up in intensive care after a brutal beating from two men with baseball bats. 

Now, the 15-year-old Saltfleet Secondary student has to go through surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain and does not have full movement on his right side. His family is left wondering if his attack was a hate crime.
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According to police, Rabbani was walking in the area of Rymal Road East and Fletcher Road just after midnight, where he was assaulted and robbed of his backpack. 

A police news release says two men got out of a car next to where he was walking, with one holding a baseball bat. 

"The males approached the boy and struck him with the bat several times causing serious injuries," the news release reads. "The suspects ran back to the car and left in an unknown direction." 

Aslam says her nephew didn't have anything of real value in the backpack to steal — just a water bottle and some books. The teen's family says he's a quiet, kind boy and an exceptional student who has won several academic awards. 

But considering that Rabbani is of Pakistani and Muslim background, Aslam says, his family is worried that the incident was a hate crime, and he was targeted for the colour of his skin. 

"It just seems like all of a sudden after the election in the U.S. there have been more violent incidents in our country," Aslam said. "It's the timing of it all. 

"Here we are in Canada, the greatest country in the world. I'm just really in shock."
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Aslam says that since president-elect Donald Trump's win this month, her whole family has felt more racial tension and even danger while out in public. A Facebook post from a family member is asking for prayers for the teen, as well as a plea for communities to start talking about racism and Islamophobia.

If anyone has any information that could shed further light on this incident, please contact us.