CAIR Seeks Probe of Bias Motive for Minnesota Mosque Vandalism

MINNEAPOLIS, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on state and national law enforcement authorities to investigate repeated vandalism targeting a mosque in that state as a possible bias-motivated crime.

Officials with the Muslim Society Center in Owatonna, Minn., contacted CAIR-MN after a window of the facility was broken early Saturday. Mosque leaders say it does not appear that an object was thrown at the window, but rather that someone approached the mosque and broke it using a bat or other object. It is the second time in two weeks and the third time in a year that a window has been broken at the mosque.

"The repeated nature of this vandalism seems to indicate that the vandalism is targeted rather than random," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya. "Any such attacks on a house of worship must be investigated with the possibility of a bias motive in mind."

SEE: Owatonna Mosque Targeted by Vandals (Owatonna People's Press)
http://tinyurl.com/kvpx8cx

Mosque leaders say the mosque has faced opposition since it opened and that some in the community have been hostile to the group's presence. CAIR-MN has provided mosque leaders with safety tips and will be presenting a community safety training at the mosque.

Saroya noted that the Owatonna vandalism comes in an atmosphere of growing Islamophobia nationwide. She cited an event last night in Tennessee in which a U.S. attorney and and FBI official were heckled by a crowd shouting anti-Muslim slurs such as "Islam is evil."

The U.S. attorney was called a "traitor" and "serpent" for speaking out against hate crimes targeting Muslims. Other hecklers shouted "communist," "socialist" and "Muslim" at the officials and promoted the manufactured claim that "sharia," or Islamic principles, is being imposed in America.

SEE: Muslim Group's TN Forum with Feds Disrupted by Heckling (Video)
http://tinyurl.com/m8ual6v

TN: Anti-Muslim Crowd Lashes Out at U.S. Attorney
http://tinyurl.com/mqrrro7

Video: Anti-Muslim Crowd Heckles Federal Officials in Tenn.
http://www.fox17.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wztv_vid_18283.shtml

CAIR-St. Louis: Missouri Governor Vetoes Anti-Shariah Bill (RNS)
http://tinyurl.com/muobn99

Earlier this week, CAIR made a similar call for a hate crime investigation after some two dozen paintballs were fired at a Texas mosque.

Video: CAIR Rep Says Texas Mosque Vandalism Should Not Be Taken Lightly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyqXljYkpOM

Last week, CAIR urged a similar hate crime probe of vandalism targeting a Georgia mosque.

Video: CAIR Says Ga. Mosque Vandalism May Be Tied to London Incident
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVZGJDgpaO0

Video: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Georgia Mosque Vandalism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNWYluib7As

CAIR recently began distributing new safety and security guidelines to mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide.

The new CAIR publication, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," was produced in response to recent bias attacks, including a series of incidents last year targeting American Muslim institutions.

Community leaders may request a free copy of CAIR's "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," by going to: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html

SEE: CAIR Distributes New Mosque Safety Guidelines
http://tinyurl.com/p6678ok  

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya, 612-327-6700, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations