Brooklyn Dad: I Was Stabbed for Speaking Arabic

Two Brooklyn teens attacked Sunset Park resident and father Said Othman as he and his wife walked their 8-year-old son home from school on Friday, Oct. 16, around 2:30 p.m., according to various news reports.

“I was walking, and I was talking to my wife in Arabic,” Othman said in a video interview with ABC7 (see above).

That’s when he and his wife remember two teens — since identified as brothers Erick Pastuizaca, 18, and Manuel Pastuizaca, 19 — blocking their path on 41st Street.

“The guy he came in front of us and he was threatening us, ‘What you looking at?’” Othman’s wife told ABC7.

“I told him, ’Why are you talking to me like that? I don’t want no trouble,’” Othman continued.

That’s when the brothers pulled out a pocket knife and a screwdriver, Othman said, and began stabbing him repeatedly in the stomach and in the arm.

Othman’s wife remembered of one assailant: “He said, ’Oh, you’re Arabic? You deserve it. I’m going to hit you. I’m going to stab you, and you deserve it.’”

A brutal scar now runs down the majority of Othman’s torso. He hasn’t been able to work as it heals, he said.

The Pastuizaca brothers are now reportedly facing charges that include ”assault as a hate crime.” Patch has reached out to the NYPD for more information.

According to Othman’s wife, the couple’s 8-year-old son is still haunted by the attack. “The only thing he was telling me: ’Ma, why only us? Because we’re Arabic?’” she told reporters.

New York State Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz posted the following reaction to his Facebook page.

There is no place in our community for hate. No one should be targeted and attacked for any reason. Earlier this week, Sunset Park resident Said Othman, was walking his son home from school and was violently attacked for allegedly speaking Arabic. Mr. Othman was rushed to NYU-Lutheran Medical Center and underwent emergency surgery.

The attack on Mr. Othman is an attack on us all. The Sunset Park community is one of the most diverse in NYC. Our community does not tolerate hate towards anyone based on race, ethnicity, faith, creed, or sexual orientation.

My prayers go out to the Othman family. I ask the Sunset Park community to commit to combating hate in our neighborhood.

Thanks to the NYPD 72nd Precinct for their quick apprehension of the suspects. If you feel that you are in danger, please call 911 immediately. I will be following this case closely.