Ethiopian teen attacked at mikveh

The discrimination and deprivation felt by the Ethiopian community has reached ritual baths: A Bnei Brak resident barred a 13 year old Ethiopian teen from going into the mikveh recenty, claiming the boy was a "stinking kushi" (a derogatory Hebrew term for black people). He then hit the boy, his brother and his aunt.

The boy arrived at the mikveh two weeks ago to undergo the ritual purification ceremony, but was met by an employee who would not let him pass.

The worker verbally attacked him, saying "don't come in, you stink, you're a stinking kushi". When the teen refused to back down, the man took hold of him and punched him in the face.

During his interrogation, the worker did not deny that he hit the teen. He told police officers: "I slapped him but good".

The injured teen ran away in the direction of his home as the man ran after him. The teen's 15-year-old brother was waiting at the entrance to their home, and tried to prevent the man from continuing his attack on the teen. But then the man started hitting the big brother, and even threw a brick at him.

When the boys' aunt arrived at the scene to help them, after hearing them cry for help, the man hit her in the head and kicked her.

After police were called to the scene, the attacker claimed in his defense at the Dan Region police headquarters, that he was the one who was attacked by "a bunch of Ethiopians". His version of events wasn't accepted, and an indictment request was filed with the Tel Aviv Magistrate Court.

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