The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Arizona) today welcomed the arrest of a suspect who allegedly threatened to kill worshipers at an Avondale, Arizona, mosque.
According to police, Michael Hanson, 37, went to the West Valley Islamic Center on March 24 after watching the film “American Sniper.” Hanson reportedly harassed worshippers and allegedly threatened to bomb the mosque. Anti-Muslim materials were reportedly found on his phone.
SEE: War veteran arrested, accused of threatening to kill people at West Valley Islamic Center
“We welcome the arrest in this troubling case and thank law enforcement authorities for their swift and professional actions to protect the Muslim community and its religious institutions from threats and harassment,” said CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif.
Abuseif urged community and mosque leaders to use advice offered in its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep those facilities safe. Much of the advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths.
Last month, Washington, D.C., based CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report “Unconstitutional Crackdowns,” which reveals that Islamophobia continues to be at an all-time high across the country.
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-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif, 602-349-1573, aabuseif@cair.com