Police say shooting at Oregon Muslim family's home motivated by hate
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic
civil rights and advocacy organization today expressed concern about a recent
"spike" in reports of anti-Muslim incidents nationwide during or just prior to
the month of Ramadan.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the
most recent incident involved a hate-motivated attack on a Muslim family's
home in Oregon.
SEE: Shooting at Oregon Muslims' Home Motivated by Hate (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q21jH0YN7yE
"We are concerned that the rising level of anti-Islam rhetoric in our society
is contributing to this apparent spike in hate crimes targeting Muslims or
those perceived to be Muslim," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad
Awad. "Our nation's leaders must speak out against the increasing use of
anti-Islam hate speech on the Internet, on talk radio and in editorial pages."
Yesterday, CAIR's Michigan chapter called for state and federal hate crime
charges against assailants who allegedly attacked members of a Muslim family
in Ann Arbor yesterday. The FBI and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights
are now looking into the case.
SEE: 5 Teens Attack, Injure Muslim Girl on School Bus (Detroit Free Press)
http://tinyurl.com/annarborattack
CAIR called for similar charges in the recent case of two men who allegedly
called a California assault victim "Taliban" and "terrorist" during the
attack.
SEE: Arraignment Put Off for Two Men Accused in Assault on Pleasanton
Cabdriver
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_13293052
In late August, CAIR reported a bias-motivated attack on Muslims in New York.
The FBI now says it is monitoring that case.
SEE: Feds Monitoring Apparent Bias Case Involving Muslims (NY Newsday)
http://tinyurl.com/longislandassault
CAIR also recently reported that anti-Iranian graffiti was scrawled inside a
Muslim-owned store in Philadelphia that was ransacked by vandals.
SEE: Vandalism at Penn. Business Probed as Hate Crime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLOpCMErNZY
SEE ALSO: Philadelphia Muslim Store Target of Apparent Hate Crime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkyYZ5WXubk
In Maine, a Somali Muslim was shot after leaving prayers at a mosque. No
motive has been established for the shooting.
SEE: Somali Man Shot After Leaving Mosque in Maine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=citW94wpGPw
In Missouri, a man was sentenced this week to three years in prison for
vandalizing a mosque earlier this year in that state.
SEE: Cape Man Gets Three Years in Prison for Breaking Windows at Islamic
Center
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1569159.html
Awad cited a poll released yesterday showing that Americans see Muslims as
being targeted by bias more than any other religious group.
"The poll also showed, as does CAIR's previous research, that prejudice is
reduced when knowledge of Islam increases," said Awad.
SEE: Poll: Muslim Americans Still Struggle for Acceptance (Time)
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1921298,00.html
To help educate Americans of all faiths about Islam, CAIR is asking Muslims to
sponsor the distribution of 100,000 copies of the Quran to governors, state
attorney generals, educators, law enforcement officials, state and national
legislators, local elected and public officials, media professionals, and
other local or national leaders who shape public opinion or determine policy.
SEE: Share the Quran
http://www.explorethequran.com/
VIDEO: CAIR Hopes to Educate Americans About Islam
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfbMApcWd6Q
CAIR is also urging American Muslim individuals and institutions to review
advice on security procedures contained in its "Muslim Community Safety Kit."
SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit
http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx
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
Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, +1-202-488-8787,
+1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; or Amina Rubin, CAIR Communications
Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com
