CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Hate Vandalism Targeting Kentucky Mosque
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism targeting a Kentucky mosque as a hate crime. CAIR also called for stepped-up police protection in the area of the mosque.
Vandals spray-painted messages and symbols, including "Moslems – leave the Jews alone," "This is for France" and a Jewish Star of David, on the Louisville Islamic Center. The vandalism was discovered Wednesday night. Members of the Jewish community went to the mosque to show their solidarity with local Muslims.
SEE: Vandals Paint Anti-Islamic Messages on Louisville Mosque
http://tinyurl.com/qyhwerk
Mosque officials noted that someone recently tore up a copy of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, outside the Muslim Community Center of Louisville.
SEE: Mayor Fischer Calls on Community to Help Paint Over Vandalism at Islamic Center
http://tinyurl.com/pvwwh8o
"Given the apparent bias motive for the vandalism, law enforcement authorities should investigate this incident as a possible hate crime and provide additional protection for worshipers at the mosque," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "This incident fits a disturbing pattern of recent hate incidents targeting American Muslims and their institutions."
In August, CAIR released a new brief, called "Toxic Hate," indicating that rhetorical attacks on the nation's Muslim community in the past year have a "more violent tone" than past spikes in Islamophobic sentiment.
The CAIR brief also outlined incidents of violence and threats targeting individual Muslims, threats against groups of Muslims and threats and violence targeting Islamic houses of worship and institutions. It also includes a section on the recent phenomenon of armed anti-Islam demonstrations.
SEE: CAIR's New 'Toxic Hate' Brief Outlines Violent Tone in Recent U.S. Islamophobia
http://tinyurl.com/oxczr3t
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization recently called for similar investigations of vandalism and hate targeting mosques in Virginia, Nebraska, Tennessee, New York, and other states.
SEE: CAIR Asks State, National Leaders to Repudiate Anti-Muslim Hate at Hearing on Michigan Mosque
http://tinyurl.com/ohqg5ls
CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Vandalism Targeting Nebraska Mosque
http://tinyurl.com/pvyul3q
CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Cross Burned Into Lawn of New York Mosque
http://tinyurl.com/p72j5pm
CAIR Asks Feds to Probe Vandalism, Threat Targeting Mosques in Virginia and Tennessee
http://tinyurl.com/pdq2a4p
Those incidents fit a pattern of increased hate-motivated crimes and bias incidents nationwide targeting persons and property associated, or perceived to be associated, with Islam and the American Muslim community.
CAIR is urging community leaders to obtain and implement safety measures outlined in its booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety." The booklet may be requested through CAIR's website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
CAIR also asks Muslim 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://tinyurl.com/pdjlp8q
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, [email protected]
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
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