CAIR-MA Calls for Increased Police Protection of Local Mosques
CAIR-MA Calls for Increased Police Protection of Local Mosques
(BOSTON, MA, 11/23/15) – The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today called for increased police protection at local mosques because of a spike in anti-Muslim rhetoric and direct threats against Muslim houses of worship nationwide since the recent Paris terror attacks.
SEE: A Running List of Shameful Islamophobic Acts Since the Paris Attacks
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/all-the-islamophobic-acts-in-us-canada-since-paris_564cee09e4b031745cef9dda
CAIR-MA has been in conversation with local police and the FBI to alert them to the national anti-Muslim bias incidents, to request additional patrols around mosques within their jurisdiction and to be aware of anti-Muslim rhetoric.
CAIR-MA Executive Director Dr. John Robbins called recent bias incidents “shameful” and noted that, “Such waves of attacks targeting people of a particular religious or ethnic background are reminiscent of darker days in our nation’s history which we had hoped to have overcome.”
Robbins added: “While CAIR-MA is grateful not to have received reports of direct threats against mosques or Muslims in Massachusetts, we have alerted police to hate mail sent to at least one mosque in the Greater Boston area, and dozens of hateful e-mails directed at individual Muslims.”
CAIR-MA is providing community leaders free copies of 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
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: http://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.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Massachusetts Executive Director Dr. John Robbins, 617-862-9159, jrobbins@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com