(DAYTON, OH, 3/5/2019) – The Cincinnati chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cincinnati) tonight called on Dayton, Ohio, police and the FBI to investigate vandalism targeting a local mosque at prayer time as a hate crime.
[UPDATE: An earlier version of this release stated that the suspect shot out the windows. It is currently unclear how they were damaged.]
A white male who appeared to be armed was caught on video smashing windows at the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton’s Al-Rahman Mosque in downtown Dayton, Ohio, on Friday, Feb. 28 at about 6 a.m., the time of Islamic “fajr” prayers. One person was in the mosque at the time but was uninjured.
SEE: Suspect wanted for vandalizing Islamic Society of Dayton
The Islamic Society of Greater Dayton (ISGD), the organization that owns the mosque, is cooperating with Dayton Police on the investigation.
CAIR-Cincinnati will join mosque officials at a noon news conference on Wednesday, March 6.
WHERE: Al-Rahman Mosque, 26 Josie Street, Dayton, OH 45403
WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, Noon
CONTACT: CAIR-Cincinnati Executive Director Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, kdabdoub@cair.com
“We call on local law enforcement authorities and the FBI to investigate this attack on a house of worship as a hate crime,” said CAIR-Cincinnati Executive Director Karen Dabdoub.
She noted that CAIR has documented a significant increase in attacks on American Muslims and mosques across the country since 2016.
2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted
http://www.islamophobia.org/reports/224-2018-civil-rights-report-targeted.html
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Cincinnati Executive Director Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, kdabdoub@cair.com; CAIR-Cincinnati Staff Attorney Sana Hassan, 513-281-8200, shassan@cair.com