Man jailed for hitting Jew

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNew...50.html?vgnmr=1

A SINGAPOREAN Muslim who punched a Jew at the National Library in an unprovoked attack was jailed on Thursday.

This is the first case of its kind involving a religiously aggravated assault.

Azmi Osman, 35, unemployed, who had the words 'Anti Jews'' on his right cheek, admitted to punching the right arm of Mr Eliyahu Benhiyoun, 21, and knowingly promoting feelings of ill-will between different religious groups with the tattoo on his face.

The incident occurred at the National Library at Victoria Street on Feb 25.

Apart from the two offences, he also pleaded guilty to armed robbery and causing hurt to an NTUC FairPrice worker with a knife at Bedok North Street 1 in April.

He was sentenced to a total of three years and 12 strokes of the cane.

A Community Court heard that Mr Eliyahu was engrossed in texting his friend at the lobby of the library that day when he heard someone shout at him and felt a punch on his upper right arm.

The Jewish Welfare Board religious staff, who was wearing a yarmulke, saw Azmi staring at him nearby. He took offence of the assault and deemed the tattoo worn by Azmi provocative and anti-Jewish.

Azmi claimed that the words 'Anti Jews'' meant 'Anti Jagged'', 'Endeavour'', 'Worship'' and 'Satanic'', which symbolised underground music.

Pressing for a deterrent sentence, Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Kok Weng said the offences were racially or religiously aggravated, and threatened the long-term stability and social cohesion of Singapore.

'Such xenophobic acts cannot be condoned in a multi-religious and multi-racial society such as Singapore,' ' he said.

If hate acts based on race or religion were allowed to persist, the fault lines between the races and/or religious groups would deepen, said the DPP. This would in turn create opportunities for religious extremist groups to exploit.

Community Court Judge Ng Peng Hong agreed with the prosecution that a stiff sentence was warranted.

How does the Sharia court punish such a racial act...?

Man hit Jew, jailed
He is the first to be convicted of religiously motivated assault
By Elena Chong

HE HAD the words 'ANTI JEWS' tattooed on his face and Azmi Osman showed the hostility he felt in February this year when he punched a Jewish man on the arm without any apparent reason.

On Thursday, the unemployed man, 34, became the first to be convicted of a religiously motivated assault and of promoting enmity between different groups with the tattoo on the right side of his face.

Azmi, who has schizophrenia, pleaded guilty to the two charges and two others of armed robbery and causing hurt by using a dangerous weapon at an NTUC FairPrice outlet in Bedok on April 24. He was sentenced to three years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane by Community Court judge Ng Peng Hong.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Kevin Yong told the court that Mr Eliyahu Benhiyoun, 21, an American religious worker based in Singapore with the Jewish Welfare Board, was in the lobby of the National Library on Feb 25, engrossed in sending an SMS to a friend, when he suddenly heard someone shout at him and felt a punch on his upper right arm.

Mr Benhiyoun, who was wearing a yarmulke, an orthodox Jewish skullcap, saw Azmi staring at him. He noticed the tattoo on his right cheek, which he said offended him.

Azmi claimed at first that the victim had provoked him. He also claimed that 'ANTI JEWS' stood for 'Anti Jagged', 'Endeavour', 'Worship' and 'Satanic', and symbolised underground music.

But while investigation into the case was ongoing, Azmi got into further trouble when he stole three bottles of tonic wine and a knife from the Bedok supermarket on April 24. He also slashed a staff member on the back of his right hand.

Pressing for a stiff sentence, DPP Wong Kok Weng argued that Azmi's February offences were racially or religiously aggravated, and such acts could threaten the long-term stability and social cohesion which Singaporeans had taken great pains to preserve. 'Such xenophobic acts cannot be condoned in a multi-religious and multi-racial society such as Singapore,' he said.

DPP Wong said if hate acts based on race or religion were allowed to persist, the fault lines between groups would deepen. This would create opportunities that extremist elements could exploit.

Azmi, whose psychiatric illness was in remission when he committed the offences, had two other charges considered during his sentencing.

Idiot Malay who just hate becoz of rumors and hear say... not becoz they had mingle around with certain ethnicity... I had some Malay frens who are Israeli supporters and they are more open than that monkey guy who punched the Jew... Of course they are just a minority among clouded head majority...

Idiot Malay who just hate becoz of rumors and hear say... not becoz they had mingle around with certain ethnicity... I had some Malay frens who are Israeli supporters and they are more open than that monkey guy who punched the Jew... Of course they are just a minority among clouded head majority...