(BALTIMORE, MD, 9/10/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities to conduct a hate crime investigation into several incidents targeting a Muslim family in Greenbelt, Md.
The family told CAIR that their daughter was parking her car in front of the home’s driveway when a car pulled up next to her, reportedly staring at her in a menacing manner while blocking off oncoming traffic. When the daughter, who wears an Islamic head scarf (hijab), rolled down her window, the woman in the other car called her a “terrorist,” among other slurs and insults, including commenting on her skin color and the hijab. The woman also allegedly threatened the daughter, telling her that “punishment is coming soon.”
The family reported the incident to Greenbelt Police but were disappointed in the response they received. The family told CAIR they have experienced a pattern of disturbing incidents in the past few months, including the damaging of the irrigation system in their front yard, the slashing of their tires, and the placing of nails and screws on their driveway.
In a statement at a news conference this morning at CAIR’s Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C., CAIR-Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“The intimidation and threats this family has endured mirror the experiences of many other American Muslim families confronted by hate and bias as a consequence of the rise in Islamophobia in our country, especially post 9/11.
“CAIR applauds this family’s courage in speaking out and sharing their story, and strongly condemns the threats, slurs and pattern of alleged harassment. We’re calling on the Greenbelt Police to investigate a bias motive into the latest incident, help deliver justice for the family and avoid future incidents.”
Video: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Incidents Targeting Maryland Muslim Family
CAIR’s news conference also discussed the results of a nationwide survey of American Muslims about their perspectives and experiences over the past twenty years.
SEE: CAIR to Host DC Press Conference Marking 20th Anniversary of September 11, 2001, Detail Results of Nationwide American Muslim Survey
READ CAIR’s Survey of American Muslims 20 Years After September 11th:
https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/911_survey_report_1.pdf
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.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR Office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com