The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the release of an audio recording of alleged racist and anti-Muslim threats targeting a Maricopa mosque.
The Maricopa Police Department released 13 minutes of those alleged threats recorded by Masjid Bilal Rabah Mosque on August 3. The alleged caller, Mark Antonio Martinez, reportedly said, “We’re gonna have to crusade all you guys again,” and claimed he would be “one of the attackers.”
LISTEN: Police release audio of mosque threat
In response to the release of the recording, CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif issued the following statement:
“We welcome the Maricopa Police Department’s release of this audio and the fact that law enforcement authorities have taken this alleged threat seriously. The chilling nature of these messages is a stark reminder of the ongoing danger that the Muslim and other minority communities face. No community should live in fear of violence or harassment because of their religious identity.
“We urge all community members to remain vigilant and report any threats or hate incidents and remain committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and civil rights of all Arizonans.”
Abuseif said CAIR-AZ continues to monitor the case and is offering support to the mosque and its members.
She added that CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide. CAIR said viewpoint discrimination against those speaking out against genocide and apartheid was a key factor in many cases.
Earlier today, CAIR called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a reported shooting attack on a Muslim woman yesterday in Capitol Heights, Maryland, as a possible hate crime.
CAIR also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the alleged perpetrator.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encourages community members facing bias or hate incidents to report them to law enforcement and to CAIR.
Report an incident to CAIR: https://www.cair.com/report/
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; 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