CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Vandalism Targeting Tennessee Mosque

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for a hate crime investigation of vandalism targeting a Tennessee mosque.

CAIR is also calling on President Trump to speak out against the rising level of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim incidents nationwide.

Officials with the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro say the mosque was vandalized overnight with obscene anti-Islam graffiti. Slices of bacon were also used to spell out some messages and bacon was wrapped around one of the exterior doors of the mosque. [NOTE: Anti-Muslim bigots often use pigs or pork products to intentionally offend Muslims because of the Islamic prohibition on consuming pork products.]

SEE: Islamic Center of Murfreesboro Vandalized Again
http://www.dnj.com/story/news/2017/07/10/islamic-center-murfreesboro-vandalized-again/464315001/

This mosque has been targeted by hate a number of times in recent years.

Video: Tenn. Mosque Opponents Say Islam 'Not a Religion,' Harass Muslim Journalist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydNfIr2CqI8

"This apparent hate attack on a house of worship is just the latest incident in a troubling spike of bias-motivated crimes targeting mosques and American Muslims nationwide," said CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor. "Our nation's leaders, beginning with President Trump, need to speak out forcefully against Islamophobia and other forms of prejudice that inevitably result in such attacks."

Saylor noted that since the beginning of the year, CAIR's national office has called for investigations of possible bias motives for dozens of other incidents targeting mosques in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas, and a number of other states. By comparison, in the January-March period in 2016, CAIR recorded 19 such incidents.

Yesterday, CAIR's New York chapter called on a person or persons who left a painting of Jesus on the cross at a mosque in that state to learn what Muslims actually believe.

CAIR-NY Urges Person Who Left 'Jesus' Painting at Mosque to Learn About Islamic Beliefs
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14454-cair-ny-urges-person-who-left-jesus-painting-at-mosque-to-learn-about-islamic-beliefs.html
Video: CAIR-NY Calls 'Jesus' Painting Incident a Teaching Moment for Perpetrator, Community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4njQnP6WCU

CAIR is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety."

A hard copy of the booklet may be requested through CAIR's website at: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html   
It may also be viewed at: http://www.cair.com/images/publications/CAIR_Mosque_Safety_Guide.pdf

Earlier today, CAIR condemned racist vandalism by an apparent supporter of President Donald Trump targeting a North Carolina family. A vandal spray-painted "Trump! Get out N******!" on the driveway of the Nigerian-born couple on Friday.

SEE: CAIR Condemns Racist, Pro-Trump Vandalism Targeting North Carolina Family
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14455-cair-condemns-racist-pro-trump-vandalism-targeting-north-carolina-family.html

CAIR said it has witnessed an unprecedented increase in hate incidents targeting members of minority groups since the election of Donald Trump.

The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report      

CAIR recently launched an app to share critical "know your rights" information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.

For a quick download of CAIR's civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app    

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

CONTACT: CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

http://www.cair.com