March 8, 2003	Saturday	Muharram 4, 1424

LOS ANGELES, March 7: As complaints mounted over a nine-day official silence, police on Thursday agreed to consult the FBI in the investigation of a violent, race-related clash between two teen groups in Yorba Linda city, near Los Angeles.

Police and Yorba Linda city officials said they decided not to disclose the Feb 22 beating of Rashid Alam, an 18-year-old Muslim, in order to investigate it.

But community activists have questioned the delay in publicizing the case, which became news on Monday when the victim’s family came forward. Some saw a double standard.

“There’s a feeling in our community that crimes against Muslims are not treated the same way, as crimes against others”, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

A 16-year-old from Placentia and a 17-year-old from Yorba Linda were arrested on misdemeanour assault charges three days after the incident, but the lack of further arrests has incensed some Arab American and human rights activists.

“A few (of the attackers) are allegedly going around their schools bragging about how they almost killed or disabled this Arab boy,” Ayloush said.

“Our community is awaiting strong immediate protection from the FBI,” Ayloush said. “The American Muslim community is scared and looking for answers.”