Connecticut Rep. Maryam Khan assaulted at Islam prayer service

Connecticut state Rep. Maryam Khan was assaulted Wednesday morning after attending a prayer service in Hartford, according to officials.

The Democratic lawmaker was with her three children, her sister and a friend when 30-year-old Andrey Desmond allegedly approached her outside Hartford’s XL Center. He’s accused of making “vulgar and obscene remarks,” preventing Khan from getting away, striking her and throwing her to the ground, according to the Hartford Courant.

Desmond was reportedly pursued and detained by one of the 4,000 fellow worshippers also observing the Islam holiday of Eid-al-Adha at the downtown Hartford arena. Law Enforcement was called to the area shortly after 11 a.m.

Police didn’t name the victim in their report, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) identified her as the state rep.

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said he too attended Wednesday’s service and was “deeply sorry” for what Khan and her family experienced. Gov. Ned Lamont also expressed displeasure over the incident.

“It is disturbing to me that this happened on a holy day meant to be marked by peaceful prayer,” his statement reads.

[ Former Connecticut governor and lawmaker Lowell Weicker dead at 92 ]

Lt. Gov Susan Bysiewicz said it a statement to the Daily News that “this type of hate has no home” in Connecticut.

“I am sickened by the news of Rep. Khan and her family being attacked,” Bysiewicz said. “Such hate and violence is never acceptable, but the fact that this happened on a holy night, in front of her three young children and her sister, is particularly vile.”

Khan became the first Muslim elected to Connecticut’s House of Representative in March 2022 when she captured nearly 75% of the vote. She previously worked as a special education teacher.

It’s unclear if Desmond, who’s from New Britain, Conn., knew Khan was a politician. Preliminary charges against him include assault and unlawful restraint.

Eid-al-Adha, which means the Feast of Sacrifice, began Wednesday and runs through Saturday. The White House announced Tuesday that for the first time, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, would host Muslim community leaders in recognition of the holy day.

With News Wire Services