The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed an arrest for a reported attack targeting children at a mosque in north Phoenix.
Phoenix police arrested Michael Abel Dominguez, 30, in connection with the March 7 attack.
CAIR-AZ previously called law enforcement authorities to investigate the attack as a possible hate crime and called on public officials and community leaders to repudiate the rising bigotry in our nation that can lead to such incidents.
In a statement, CAIR-AZ Executive Director Azza Abuseif said:
“We welcome the swift action by law enforcement authorities in making this arrest. We thank the Phoenix Police Department for taking this incident seriously and urge authorities to fully investigate the motive behind the attack, including whether bias played a role.
“This disturbing incident occurred in a broader climate in which Muslim communities across the country are increasingly concerned about safety and rising bigotry. We call on public officials and community leaders to clearly and consistently condemn anti-Muslim hate and to stand in solidarity with communities targeted because of their faith.”
Earlier today, CAIR released its 2026 Civil Rights Report “The Right to be Different,” which documents a pattern of public officials using their offices to narrow the definitions of what Americans can look like, say, or believe in 2025.
WATCH CAIR’S NEWS CONFERENCE ANNOUNCING THE REPORT.
SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different
SEE: Trump crackdown on protests and immigration led to Islamophobia, Muslim group says – Reuters
Last month, CAIR-AZ called on Arizona residents of all faiths and backgrounds to urge their state legislators and Governor Hobbs to oppose an unconstitutional, bigoted bill, SB1018, that purports to ban “sharia law” from being enforced in the state.
The resurgence of “anti-Sharia” bills nationwide reflects a coordinated political effort to weaponize fear of Islam to for political reasons.
Last year, CAIR released a congressional briefing memo, “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”
In January, CAIR-AZ welcomed a letter sent to Arizona legislators signed by dozens of local civil rights, advocacy and faith-based organizations who strongly oppose a defamatory resolution attacking CAIR-Arizona by anti-Muslim lawmaker Rep. John Gillette, who has previously referred to Muslims as “savages.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif, 602-349-1573, aabuseif@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com