The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT), the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of the individual accused of making a series of anti-Muslim hate calls targeting mosques across Connecticut, including the Islamic Center of Vernon, the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center (BICC), Farmington Valley American Muslim Center, Islamic Center of Connecticut, and Masjid Samiya
The arrest was made by the Vernon Police Department following investigations conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies into the coordinated hate calls directed at Muslim houses of worship throughout the state. The calls reportedly contained anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and ethnic slurs targeting mosques and their congregations.
Video: CAIR-CT Issues Security Alert to Mosques After Reports of Additional Anti-Muslim Calls Across CT
CAIR-CT worked closely with affected mosques and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the threats were investigated as potential hate crimes.
In a statement, CAIR-CT Chairman Farhan Memon said:
“We welcome today’s arrest and thank the Vernon Police Department and all law enforcement agencies that worked together to investigate these hateful incidents. This arrest sends an important message that those who target houses of worship with hate and intimidation will be held accountable.”
“While we are encouraged by this development, it also highlights the alarming rise in anti-Muslim incidents both nationally and here in Connecticut. Over the past year, CAIR-Connecticut has responded to multiple incidents involving harassment and discrimination targeting mosques, Muslim students in our schools, and members of our community. Hate directed at any faith community threatens the safety and values of all Connecticut residents.
“We also call on our local, state, and federal elected officials to continue speaking out forcefully against anti-Muslim hate and all forms of religious bigotry. Public condemnation of these acts is essential to ensuring that hatred is never normalized and that every resident can worship freely and safely.”
CAIR-CT continues to encourage all mosques and Islamic centers to review and implement the recommendations contained in CAIR-CT’s “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” guide to strengthen preparedness and enhance the safety of their congregations. The guide is applicable to all houses of worship.
The coordinated hate calls came only weeks after the terrorist attack targeting the Islamic Center of San Diego, underscoring growing concerns among Muslim communities nationwide regarding threats against houses of worship.
Washington, D.C. based CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
The Center for the Study of Organized Hate showing an approximately 1,450 percent increase in anti-Muslim extremist rhetoric by public officials in the 15 months after February 2025, warning that many such statements satisfy criteria for speech likely to inspire violence.
The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) is a nonprofit civil rights and advocacy organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Farhan Memon, Chairman, CAIR-CT 203-517-6526 (cell) or fmemon@cair.com