CAIR Calls for FBI Probe of Hate Graffiti at Texas Mosque

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) today called on the FBI to investigate bias-motivated
vandalism of a Houston, Texas, mosque.

CAIR said the Houston Police Department is investigating a Wednesday incident
in which an unidentified man scrawled anti-Islamic remarks on the walls of the
Turkish Center Mosque.

SEE: HPD Investigating Possible Hate Crime at Mosque
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6658660.html

"This kind of disturbing incident will only become more frequent unless our
nation's leaders speak out against the rising level of anti-Muslim rhetoric in
our society," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "A
strong response from national law enforcement authorities would send the
message that hate crimes targeting the American Muslim community will not be
tolerated."

Earlier this week, CAIR's New York office welcomed hate crime charges brought
against a man who allegedly used racist slurs during an attack in Queens,
N.Y., on a Long Island Muslim woman.

According to the alleged victim, who wears an Islamic head scarf, the
perpetrator pulled alongside her vehicle on a local parkway, spat on it, and
shouted, "Dumb f***ing Pakistani! Go back to your country!"

The attacker was later arrested and will reportedly be charged with assault in
the third degree, harassment in the first degree as a hate crime and
harassment in the second degree. CAIR-NY is in contact with law enforcement
authorities and will continue to monitor the case.

Last month, CAIR expressed concern about a "spike" in reports of anti-Muslim
incidents nationwide during or just prior to the month of Ramadan.

SEE: CAIR Concerned by 'Spike' in Anti-Muslim Incidents in Ramadan
http://tinyurl.com/ramadanattacks

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, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina
Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, +1-202-488-8787,
+1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; or Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin,
+1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com, both of CAIR