January, 14 2016, 08:30am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com
CAIR Reports Apparent Threat to Florida Mosques
WASHINGTON
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the FBI and state law enforcement authorities to investigate the desecration and attempted vandalism of a Nebraska mosque as a possible hate crime.
Officials with the Islamic Center of Omaha in Omaha, Neb., tell CAIR that two masked men left bacon on a door of the mosque at 3 a.m. yesterday. The men, whose actions were captured on surveillance cameras, also threw rocks at the glass doors of the mosque, but failed to do significant damage.
CAIR said this is the fourth time the mosque has been targeted by hate vandalism in recent months.
In November of last year, someone spray-painted graffiti of an Eiffel Tower peace symbol, which was used online as a sign of solidarity with those impacted by the Paris terror attacks, on an outside wall of the mosque. Earlier that month, CAIR reported that a vandal was caught on surveillance camera attempting to break a glass door at mosque.
In August of 2015, CAIR called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the first act of vandalism as a possible hate crime.
SEE: CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Paris-Related Vandalism Targeting Nebraska Mosque
"It is disturbing that a house of worship would be targeted four times by hate vandalism, while the perpetrators remain at large," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We urge local, state and federal authorities to redouble their efforts to protect this congregation from hate attacks."
Earlier this month, CAIR's Florida chapter called for a local, state and federal hate crime investigation of the vandalism and attempted desecration of a mosque in that state, also through the use of bacon and vandalism.
Video: New Developments in Florida Mosque Vandalism Case (CAIR)
CAIR recently called for a similar hate crime investigation after raw bacon was wrapped on door handles of a mosque in Las Vegas, Nev., and welcomed a hate crime probe of a pig's head thrown at a Philadelphia mosque.
SEE: CAIR-Philadelphia Welcomes Investigation of Pig's Head Thrown at Mosque
CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of Nevada Mosque Desecration
Last month, CAIR released a preliminary report on more than 70 incidents targeting American mosques and religious institutions in 2015 that shows a greater frequency of damage, destruction, vandalism, and intimidation than in any other year since CAIR started tracking such cases in 2009.
CAIR Report: Number of Incidents Targeting U.S. Mosque in 2015 Highest Ever Recorded
More anti-mosque incidents have occurred since that initial report was released.
Video: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Kentucky Mosque Vandalism
Video: CAIR-Sacramento Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Mosque Firebombing
CAIR is providing Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety." The booklet may be requested through CAIR's website: https://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is also asking 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: https://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html
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.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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