USA - ADL Honors Hanukkah Subway Hero Hassan Askari

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today recognized a Muslim student who came to the aid of several young adults physically assaulted in an anti-Semitic attack while riding the New York City subway. In recognition of Hassan Askari's courage in standing up to the hate, bigotry and violence he witnessed, ADL established the Stand-Up New Yorker Award, and made Mr. Askari its inaugural recipient.

In presenting the award, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, spoke of the importance of recognizing a good deed. "Hassan Askari did not hesitate for a moment. He saw hate being acted out and confronted it. Whether it occurs in the classroom, on the playing field, in the corporate boardroom, in public or in private, words of hate and bigotry and acts of hate and bigotry must be confronted. Hassan's was a courageous and inspiring act. He is a model for all of us, and as New Yorkers he makes us proud. We hope to give out this award many times in the future."

In accepting the award, Mr. Askari thanked ADL and was humble about his heroic actions. "My friends are proud of me for what I did, but I know every one of them would have done exactly the same. I did what any regular person would do."

Source: www.adl.org

Date: December 19, 2007

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