Harun Nasrullah
A vicious attack on a 13-year-old Muslim schoolboy in Ireland, captured in a disturbing viral video, is now being investigated by police as a potential hate crime. The attack took place on October 16, but the incident only became widely known after the video surfaced online weeks later. The event has sent shockwaves through the local community and ignited urgent conversations about safety and intolerance.
The footage shows Irfan Uddin Gazi from Tuam, County Galway, being cornered in an alleyway and brutally beaten by two older classmates. Pleading for the assault to stop, the boy is seen being slapped and punched multiple times before a final blow to the jaw sends him collapsing to the ground, clutching his face in pain.
Although the attack occurred on October 16, it only gained widespread attention after the video was shared on social media on November 9, sparking public outrage.
Irfan and his family are part of Galway’s close-knit Bangladeshi community, where many expressed their heartbreak and anger online. Friends identified Irfan as a well-regarded boy who actively participates in Qur’an competitions.
“The son of respected brother Gias Uddin Gazi… our community’s beloved child… was subjected to a cruel and heartbreaking physical attack by racist classmates at his school,” one community member posted on Facebook.
The assault left Irfan with significant bruising and a jaw injury, requiring hospital treatment. The emotional scars, however, run even deeper.
Irfan’s father, Gias Uddin Gazi, described the attack as “violent” and said it has shattered his family’s sense of security. “We want to feel safe and Ireland has been great for us,” he stated, “but I just want my son and all children to be able to safely go to and from school.”
He confirmed that Irfan has since returned to school, which is providing counselling and is “acting on this.”
In response to the growing concern, a meeting was held in Tuam earlier this month, attended by local councillors, police, and approximately 80 members of the Bangladeshi community, including the Gazi family. The community voiced fears that they are being targeted for their race and religion.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed that the two teenage assailants have been “referred to the Youth Diversion Programme” and that “investigations are ongoing.” This programme, under Ireland’s Children Act, aims to guide young offenders away from future crime through supervision and an action plan.
Photo: Viral footage captures Irfan Uddin Gazi from Tuam, County Galway, being cornered and assaulted by two older classmates. (Credit: X/CC)
