Terrorized for being a Muslim

SI kid's school horror

By IKIMULISA LIVINGSTON and LEONARD GREENE

Last Updated: 3:56 AM, October 12, 2010

Posted: 12:40 AM, October 12, 2010

Comments: 61

They called him a "terrorist," relentlessly taunted him and beat him so hard that he bled -- all because he was a Muslim.

But this nightmare didn't unfold in some seamy torture chamber in a far-off place -- it happened in the hallways of a Staten Island middle school.

During the 2009-10 school year at Markham Intermediate, Kristian suffered nine months of abuse from callous classmates who ripped him for his religious beliefs.

As much as the taunting and teasing in the cafeteria and classroom hurt him, nothing was as painful as being kicked to the head and punched in the groin so hard he was left reeling.

Steve White

BULLIED: Kristian says four students taunted and beat him throughout the last year at Markham Intermediate School on Staten Island.

A day after police arrested the four teenagers -- three are 14 and one is 15 -- who allegedly mocked his faith and rearranged his face, Kristian, 16, recounted the chilling campaign of psychological and physical torture unleashed by his tormentors.

"They punched me. They spit in my face. They tripped me on the floor. They kicked me with their feet and punched me," he said, asking that his last name not be used. "And as they were kicking and laughing, they kept saying, 'You f- - -ing terrorist, f- - -ing Muslim, you f- - -ing terrorist.' "

Once, after a blow to his groin, he saw blood in his urine.

The suspects were arrested Sunday and charged as juveniles with assault and aggravated harassment as a hate crime, according to police.

Kristian, who was born in the United States after his parents emigrated from Trinidad, said the juveniles told him, "You came here to burn our buildings down. People can't get jobs because of you."

The boy said he endured his private hell for a full school year, scared that if he told anyone about the bullies, his ordeal would get worse. Kristian, an only child, hid the bruises from his parents. As his personality changed, his grades suffered and he withdrew further into his shell.

Kristian thought that when he left Markham for the ninth grade, his nightmare would be over -- until he walked into Port Richmond HS last month and ran into two of the teen terrors.

When one of the bullies enlisted new recruits to persecute him, Kristian broke his silence.

"I can't go through a year like this again," he said.

Kristian told his parents, who contacted the school, and weeks later the thugs were arrested.

"He was a normal all-American kid," Kristian's father said. "He'd look at TV, watch movies, play on the computer -- regular stuff. But all of a sudden there was no emotion. Sometimes he was outraged, and we'd have no idea why. We had no idea what was happening."

Jonathan D'Agostino, a lawyer for Kristian's family, said teachers and administrators at Markham failed to protect him from the bullies even after witnessing some of the behavior. He said the family was considering filing a civil suit against the city's Department of Education.

Kristian, meanwhile, is looking forward to starting a new school.

"I'm feeling good," said Kristian, who wants to be a computer technician. "I'm hoping I can go back to my old self because now I got everything out in the open."

ikimulisa.livingston@nypost.com

Comments (49)

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The Right Ain't Right

10/12/2010 1:28 PM

JT8 -- The fear and intolerant hatred in your comments would make anyone ashamed to be an American. Do this country a favor and move somewhere that cowardice and intolerance is the law of the land, Iran, perhaps.
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WarKingRoy

10/12/2010 1:28 PM

Might I remind people that yes, while this kid is a "youth", it is "youths" in France and other Eurpopean cities who regularly riot and burn cars; and guess what religion these "youths" are?
I do not condone bullying; but I can understand the feelings the bullies had for this Muslim; after all, Muslims are at war with us, no matter what the media and out politicians say; and adults seems to just want to turn the other cheek around and around and around, Ad Infinitum. No wonder that one Muslim the other day said that one day the Flag of Islam would fly above the White house; he knows most Americans. like most Europeans, are too "civilized" to stop them - all they (Muslims) have to do is cry "Racism" and Westerners freeze and soil themselves!
Hopefully the upcoming generation will have the guts to see and call things what they are, and put a stop to the ever-increasing momentum the Muslims are using to slowly turn this country into a backwards Sharia-ruled nation.
Flag of Islam will never fly over the White House, you say? Why not? We already have an Islamic Sympathizer LIVING there!
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TheGoodWord

10/12/2010 1:19 PM

JT8,

Jesus never spoke like that.
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JT8

10/12/2010 1:14 PM

FEDUP

“After reading some of theses comments I am ashamed to call myself an American and group myself with these Bigots”

You know what pig – if you feel ashamed of being an American, f^king move out.
Your understanding of this religion is ridiculous – you know nothing. I suggest you do a search and call it ….American-hate-Mosque-Saudi-Freedom-House – you’ll see a pdf from Freedom House – read it and grow UP, you have no idea what you’re dealing with, and clowns like you play right into their hands.
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NineOfSeven

10/12/2010 1:09 PM

My parents moved to Jackson Heights Queens from Manhattan in the early 60's. Back then, it was an all Irish neighborhood. As the one of three Hispanic families in the neighborhood, we got our asses handed to us by the Irish countless of times. It didn't help that I was an incredibly hot, rediculously good looking Latin and that the Irish girls would do anything for and to me. Anyway, I never told my parents about the "jumps" and beatings, there was no "civil rights" outcry. We just man-upped and took it until we were large enough to dish it back. Even so, I became friends (to this day) with many of my "tormentors". We are living in such a pooseyfied world today.
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outatowner

10/12/2010 1:01 PM

This child was the victim of a hate crime that continued for months. Yes, maybe the parents should have seen and done something but he's a teenager - not uncommon for teenagers to be moody. The school on the otherhand should have done something especially since teachers/administrators saw the abuse. I hope the bullies are prosecuted and put in detention - none of this "first offense" garbage, none of the "they're just kids" garbage either - they harassed a classmate and they were horrible. I'm guessing they learned from home and that's the true sorrow - their parents are probably to blame as well. I hope the victim gets the help he needs to heal and move on. Kid on kid crime is still a crime.
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MeganS

10/12/2010 12:48 PM

The kid probably will grow up to be a terrorist.
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MeganS

10/12/2010 12:48 PM

The kid probably will grow up to be a terrorist.