The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate the defacement of a Ramadan mural at North Carolina’s Duke University in North Carolina as a possible hate crime. [NOTE: Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting that ended this month.]
A Quranic verse on the mural, “Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful,” was edited to include the word “not” before “Merciful.” Also, posters of red cows were placed over flags of several Muslim-majority nations. An email from a university official said the red cow imagery is a reference to “calls to destroy the al-Aqsa mosque, the holy Muslim site in Jerusalem.”
SEE: University announces OSCCS investigation into defacement of Ramadan mural for possible Islamophobia
“Based on the type of vandalism, and on the unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in recent months, we urge university, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this disturbing incident as a possible hate crime,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor.
He noted that earlier this month, CAIR released its 2024 civil rights report, which reveals the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history.
SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate
Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documents 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
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.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: [email protected], CC [email protected]
END
CONTACT: CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, [email protected]; CAIR Research and Advocacy Coordinator Farah Afify, [email protected]@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected], CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]