Republican Muslim candidate brutally attacked in politically motivated attack

MUKILTEO– The intersection of Highway 525 and Goat Trail Road in Old Town Mukilteo became the scene of a politically motivated attack on former Mukilteo City Councilman and current Republican candidate for the Washington State House of Representatives, 21^st Legislative District, Riaz Khan.

“You foreigners, you come to America, motherfucker,” Khan, with trepidation in his voice, recalled the words said to him by two attackers just seconds before the brutal attack.. “You damn Trump supporter….”

According to Khan, the two men started hitting him with wooden poles and shouting words at him.

“If I hadn’t had the hammer, they would have killed me.” Khan told the Lynnwood Times. “When they saw the hammer in my hand, they retreated and walked away very quickly.”

Khan is in immense pain both physically and emotionally due to the incident.

“This is Mukilteo, we should feel safe in Mukilteo. There is a public safety issue going on right now. This is all about hate,” Khan said.

At approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, two white men in their mid-30s to 40s followed the former Mukilteo City Councilman as he left Mukilteo Lane on the waterfront. Khan performed his nightly ‘tick patrol’ routine over the 21^st Neighborhood.

Khan said his signs have been stolen for weeks and residents have been texting him because they witnessed his signs being stolen. That’s why he patrols the neighborhood late at night to replace stolen signs.

On the evening/early morning of the incident, Khan parked his car southbound Community transportation Bus stop located at SR-525 and Goat Trail Road, just before a Mukilteo Water & Wastewater District substation. He then crossed SR-525 to a mountain known for placing campaign signs.

Shortly after crossing the road, a vehicle traveling southbound on SR-525 turned left onto Goat Trail Road and parked on the shoulder less than 50 feet from the intersection. Two men exited the vehicle and approached Khan while shouting at him for his attention, which Khan ignored.

With his back turned, the men hit him several times with wooden poles, Khan said, leaving his back bruised and battered.

Khan turned to defend himself, but the men, seeing a hammer in Khan’s hand, quickly returned to their vehicle and fled the scene eastbound on Goat Trail Road.

“I could have chased them, but I said I would just follow the law and call the police,” Khan told the Lynnwood Times. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of these guys.”

Khan told the Lynnwood Times that his attackers were two white men, aged between 30 and 40. One was between six and six feet tall and had a goatee; the other was six feet tall. Both were wearing black hoodies and had a medium build. He said he never exchanged words with the men, nor does he know them.

He filed a report with the Mukilteo police that morning.

‘This was politically motivated and a hate crime’ Khan said.

When asked if he found it suspicious that the men parked near him and approached him at 2 a.m., Khan replied“I didn’t know… this is Mukilteo. People walk around at night because it’s safe. This is normal.”

Khan said this is the first time he has experienced political violence against him in his years as a public servant.

In an interview in August, Khan told the Lynnwood Times that he was “walking away” from the Democratic party because the party’s approach to issues “no longer aligns with the values ​​(he) holds most important.” He also criticized the party for lacking “leadership skills at all levels” – state, federal, level and party level – and for causing rising food prices and crime.

He is a production engineer at Boeing and a well-known Mukilteo activist. Khan was elected to his first term on the Mukilteo City Council in November 2019 and was the first Muslim elected to a city council position in Snohomish County. He served four years on the Mukilteo City Council, where he voted to increase the number of police officers in the city to strengthen public safety efforts.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) has its annual crime report on Tuesday, July 9, which will collect statewide crime data. Overall, the report found that crime rates in Washington state were down across the board compared to 2022 and 2023; Yet hate crimes and vehicle thefts continued to rise.

According to the report, Washington state saw a 6% increase in hate crimes in 2023, for a total of 576 incidents.

Khan’s opponent, Rep. Strom Peterson, condemned the politically motivated attack.

“There is no place for political violence and an attack like this is unacceptable.” Peterson told the Lynnwood Times. “I have known Riaz for years and appreciate his service to the community. I wish him a speedy recovery and support to his family.”

Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine shared that he and law enforcement will fully investigate this matter.

“Mukilteo is a safe and hospitable city,” Mayor Marine told the Lynnwood Times. “MPD will fully investigate this incident to hold these men accountable and bring justice to Khan and his family.”

Kahn’s wife, Ayesha, shared with the Lynnwood Times the night Riaz came home, battered and beaten.

“He shivered and said, ‘Hold me tight, hold my hand'” Ayesha said.

Holding back tears, she added“What if they had broken his head just because he is in politics? If something were to happen to him… I don’t even want to think about it.’

The Khans have lived in Mukilteo for fifteen years and call Mukilteo home.

“I’m shocked! Mukilteo is the safest place. I wear the hijab and have no problems here. Now, after yesterday, that has changed. I have so many friends here, Mukilteo is very friendly. Now I have to think twice about it and be more careful.” Ayesha said.

She told the Lynnwood Times that she, their son or one of Riaz’s brothers will accompany him on his board patrols in the future.

“I will pray for peace, and pray ill for those persons who have hatred in their hearts for another human being. Crime has no place here in Mukilteo, nor anywhere else.” Ayesha told the Lynnwood Times.