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 called on law enforcement authorities to investigate a reported attack targeting children at a mosque in north Phoenix as a possible hate crime.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also called on public officials and community leaders to repudiate the rising bigotry in our nation that can lead to such incidents.
Police are investigating the alleged aggravated assault on children outside the Islamic Center of North Phoenix that reportedly occurred in the early morning hours of March 7. A man allegedly shot what appeared to be a pellet or paintball gun in the direction of the mosque. The assailant reportedly hit multiple parked vehicles before he fled. No one was injured in the attack.
SEE: Kids at north Phoenix mosque attacked while finishing Ramadan prayers
[NOTE: On Tuesday, March 10, CAIR: plans to release its annual civil rights report, titled “The Right to be Different,” during a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C. To obtain an embargoed copy of the report, media professionals may email: csaylor@cair.com ]
In a statement, CAIR AZ Executive Director Azza Abuseif said:
“Children and families gathering at a mosque for Ramadan prayers should never have to fear being targeted by violence or intimidation. Although we are grateful that no one was physically injured, an attack that appears to target a house of worship while children are present is deeply alarming.
“We urge law enforcement authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly, including the possibility that it was motivated by bias. Public officials and community leaders should also speak out clearly against anti-Muslim bigotry and all forms of hate that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.”
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