A man with a history of anti-Muslim hate crimes was arrested once again this week for allegedly assaulting a Muslim woman on a Queens train, causing serious injuries. Naved Durrni, 34, approached a 55-year-old woman wearing a hijab on an E train and began attacking her after questioning her about her religion. The victim suffered fractures to her nasal and orbital bones, as well as bruising and swelling, and had to be treated at a local hospital.
Durrni, who has a total of six prior arrests, including previous incidents targeting Muslim victims, was charged with hate crime assault and aggravated harassment. He was held without bail by Judge Michael Katz during his arraignment. This latest attack is not the first time Durrni has been involved in anti-Muslim hate crimes in Queens. In 2021, he was arrested for a series of assaults on Muslim individuals in the area.
In one incident, he attacked a couple walking on Liberty Avenue and Lefferts Boulevard, punching the man and tugging on the woman’s hijab while making derogatory statements about Mohammed. In another attack, he assaulted a 56-year-old woman on Inwood Street, fracturing her nose. He also targeted a 38-year-old woman on Sutphin Boulevard, pulling out a knife when she tried to call 911.
Despite his previous arrests and the violent nature of his crimes, Durrni was released following his 2021 hate crime spree and was only convicted of second-degree aggravated harassment in 2022. He is scheduled to appear in court again in connection to his latest arrest on Monday. The repeated nature of his attacks and the severity of the injuries inflicted on his victims highlight the importance of addressing hate crimes and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
