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Haredi youth say Arabs attackers forced them to say Arabic verses
Two Arab attackers allegedly forced the two ultra-Orthodox youth to declare faith in Islam and say 'Hamas needs to rule' while punching them—documenting everything on their phone cameras; police arrest suspects.
Two ultra-Orthodox youth say they were assaulted early Saturday by two young Arab men while they were making their way to the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem.
The two Haredim filed a complaint with the police, saying the two Arabs cursed at them in Hebrew and Arabic and punched them.
"It was terrible humiliation," said P., one of the Haredi youth. "They forced us to kiss their hands, say verses in Arabic, say derogatory things against the prime minister and say we recognize Hamas's rule. They documented all of it from up close with their phone cameras. We demand the police to investigate it."
File photo (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
The two ultra-Orthodox youth, who were able to flee the scene, did not require medical care.
The Honenu legal NGO, which is representing the two, said the Arab youth tied the Haredi boys' payot (sidelocks) together, forced them to say the Shahada (an Islamic declaration of belief), and forced them to say "Hamas is the best, Hamas needs to rule."
"This incident is reminiscent of darker days in which Jews were humiliated and mistreated," said a Honenu lawyer.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and have since arrested two suspects from east Jerusalem, aged 18 and 19. The court extended their remand by four days.
"This is a grave incident, which was allegedly motivated by racism," police said.
