The Islamic Women's Council says the attack that left a Dunedin schoolgirl with concussion after three students ripped her hijab off is a hate incident.
Seventeen-year-old Hoda Al-Jamaa was sitting with her friends at Otago Girls' High School when three girls approached and started attacking the group beating her while they filmed.
The school principal has declined to be interviewed but says they have strong processes in place and will listen to both sides of the story - a response which some Muslim leaders say is inadequate.
Aliya Danzeisen is the national coordinator of the Islamic Women's Council of New Zealand and she Susie Ferguson this was a targeted attack and needs to be dealt with like that.