A CAIR representative contacted the Bakersfield Police Department and was told that the perpetrators have confessed but claim they were not motivated by bias. A department official noted that there have been other incidents targeting the Sikh temple in the past and that they are trying to determine whether there is a connection to this incident.
The CAIR official explained that American Sikhs have been targeted in the past because they are often perceived to be Muslim because of their religiously-mandated turbans and beards.
CAIR’s California office is working with the local Sikh community and will monitor the case for future developments.
CONTACT: Hussam Ayloush, CAIR-LA, 714-776-1847, E-Mail: socal@cair.com