Student may face charges in hoax
Lisa Chiu
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 02, 2001 12:00:00
Arizona State University junior Ahmad Saad Nasim told a gruesome tale: He was attacked from behind, beaten and pelted with eggs while his assailants uttered racial epithets.
But that story was a lie and now has ASU officers considering whether to cite Nasim for false reporting.
The department has not yet determined whether to take action against Nasim, said police Chief John Pickens, but it is in contact with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which would prosecute such crimes. Nasim could also face internal disciplinary action from the university.
The political science major confessed Thursday to the hoax after he was found lying inside a locked bathroom stall in the university's library, apparently attempting to fake another hate crime. Police said he gave no reason for either hoax.
Nasim, 23, did not return calls Monday, and his father, who answered the door to the family's home in Mesa, said they had no comment.
Senior Vikesh Desai, who is working with police and administrators to improve safety for students, said the lie hurts victims of genuine hate crimes.
"It's like the boy who cried wolf," Desai said. "Now if another person is attacked in a hate crime, more people are going to question it. People are going to be afraid to speak up because they'll think people won't believe them."
Benjamin Graff, a friend of Nasim's, said he was surprised to learn of the hoax. Graff worked with Nasim when the two were student senators at the University of Arizona.
He said he remembers Nasim as a quiet but passionate student who cared about diversity and multiculturalism.
"He was always willing to contribute to discussions," Graff said. "He was always very involved in writing letters to the editor. Just a very kindhearted person."
In the days following the incident Nasim even wrote a letter to the student newspaper.
"Many of you e-mailed to show your support, gave online get well cards and many kind messages that made me burst into tears," he wrote. "My physical injuries will take time to wither away. But you Sun Devils have certainly taken care of the emotional pains I had."
The increased police presence on campus will remain in place, the police chief added, especially since a student of Indian descent was attacked Tuesday by three men who punched and kicked him while making anti-Muslim remarks.
"We're not letting this situation taint our investigation in the other incidents," Pickens said. "We're going to follow any leads. There is no reason to suspect that the incident (on Tuesday) didn't occur."
Desai can only speculate on Nasim's motives.
"He might have done it because people weren't taking hate crimes seriously or it was a personal hoax," Desai said. "I want to know why."
Copyright 2000, azcentral.com. All rights reserved
ASU assault called hate crime
By Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor The Arizona Republic Sept. 26, 2001 12:00:00 A 19-year-old ASU student of Indian descent walking home early Tuesday morning was assaulted in what university officials are saying is the third hate crime on campus since the East Coast terrorist attacks. Keith Jennings, an Arizona State University spokesman, said the student was pushed to the ground, punched and kicked near McAllister Avenue and University Drive by three men. The suspects made remarks about the student's national origin, Jennings said. The victim is not Muslim, authorities said. "We are really disgusted," Jennings said. "We don't know if the men who perpetrated this are from ASU, but if they are, we are really disappointed and outraged." On Sept. 14, a 19-year-old Muslim student was pushed to the ground in a campus parking lot and hit with eggs by two men who shouted, "Die, Muslim, die!" That night, a 31-year-old student of Pakistani descent also was hit with eggs. Jennings said the school increased the patrols by uniformed and plainclothes police officers on campus after the first attack. Two men and two juveniles were arrested in connection with the second ASU assault. Tuesday's campus assault marks the fourth reported hate crime in the Valley. Frank Silva Roque, 42, of Mesa, was indicted Tuesday in the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49, a Mesa gas station owner. Sodhi was shot to death Sept. 15, apparently because he wore a turban. "We must be united against ill forces," Farid Farooqi, principal of the Muslim Community Mosque, said Tuesday. "Leaders of society need to keep reminding people that we are all Americans, regardless of our origin."
Lisa Chiu
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 02, 2001 12:00:00
Arizona State University junior Ahmad Saad Nasim told a gruesome tale: He was attacked from behind, beaten and pelted with eggs while his assailants uttered racial epithets.
But that story was a lie and now has ASU officers considering whether to cite Nasim for false reporting.
The department has not yet determined whether to take action against Nasim, said police Chief John Pickens, but it is in contact with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, which would prosecute such crimes. Nasim could also face internal disciplinary action from the university.
The political science major confessed Thursday to the hoax after he was found lying inside a locked bathroom stall in the university's library, apparently attempting to fake another hate crime. Police said he gave no reason for either hoax.
Nasim, 23, did not return calls Monday, and his father, who answered the door to the family's home in Mesa, said they had no comment.
Senior Vikesh Desai, who is working with police and administrators to improve safety for students, said the lie hurts victims of genuine hate crimes.
"It's like the boy who cried wolf," Desai said. "Now if another person is attacked in a hate crime, more people are going to question it. People are going to be afraid to speak up because they'll think people won't believe them."
Benjamin Graff, a friend of Nasim's, said he was surprised to learn of the hoax. Graff worked with Nasim when the two were student senators at the University of Arizona.
He said he remembers Nasim as a quiet but passionate student who cared about diversity and multiculturalism.
"He was always willing to contribute to discussions," Graff said. "He was always very involved in writing letters to the editor. Just a very kindhearted person."
In the days following the incident Nasim even wrote a letter to the student newspaper.
"Many of you e-mailed to show your support, gave online get well cards and many kind messages that made me burst into tears," he wrote. "My physical injuries will take time to wither away. But you Sun Devils have certainly taken care of the emotional pains I had."
The increased police presence on campus will remain in place, the police chief added, especially since a student of Indian descent was attacked Tuesday by three men who punched and kicked him while making anti-Muslim remarks.
"We're not letting this situation taint our investigation in the other incidents," Pickens said. "We're going to follow any leads. There is no reason to suspect that the incident (on Tuesday) didn't occur."
Desai can only speculate on Nasim's motives.
"He might have done it because people weren't taking hate crimes seriously or it was a personal hoax," Desai said. "I want to know why."
Copyright 2000, azcentral.com. All rights reserved
ASU assault called hate crime
By Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor The Arizona Republic Sept. 26, 2001 12:00:00 A 19-year-old ASU student of Indian descent walking home early Tuesday morning was assaulted in what university officials are saying is the third hate crime on campus since the East Coast terrorist attacks. Keith Jennings, an Arizona State University spokesman, said the student was pushed to the ground, punched and kicked near McAllister Avenue and University Drive by three men. The suspects made remarks about the student's national origin, Jennings said. The victim is not Muslim, authorities said. "We are really disgusted," Jennings said. "We don't know if the men who perpetrated this are from ASU, but if they are, we are really disappointed and outraged." On Sept. 14, a 19-year-old Muslim student was pushed to the ground in a campus parking lot and hit with eggs by two men who shouted, "Die, Muslim, die!" That night, a 31-year-old student of Pakistani descent also was hit with eggs. Jennings said the school increased the patrols by uniformed and plainclothes police officers on campus after the first attack. Two men and two juveniles were arrested in connection with the second ASU assault. Tuesday's campus assault marks the fourth reported hate crime in the Valley. Frank Silva Roque, 42, of Mesa, was indicted Tuesday in the murder of Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49, a Mesa gas station owner. Sodhi was shot to death Sept. 15, apparently because he wore a turban. "We must be united against ill forces," Farid Farooqi, principal of the Muslim Community Mosque, said Tuesday. "Leaders of society need to keep reminding people that we are all Americans, regardless of our origin."
(Nasim)
