A national association that advocates for the rights of Muslims has asked the FBI to investigate a Melbourne attack as a federal hate crime.

Elhassan Elfakiri, 42, was mugged Nov. 14 while checking his mail at Tradewinds apartments on Palm Bay Road, a police report states. The two attackers shouted religious and ethnic slurs as they beat him, police say.

Sabiah Kahn, executive director of the Orlando office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the FBI needs to investigate to show attackers that authorities take bias crimes seriously.

"Among their mandates is to protect people against hate crimes," Kahn said.

Elfakiri was hit from behind, according to the report. The attackers knocked Elfakiri unconscious and drove off in a tan SUV.

Elfakiri is a Muslim from Morocco. [Link]