The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on federal law enforcement authorities to join an investigation into an armed suspect reportedly chased from the site of a mosque in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to reports, witnesses said a white man carrying a rifle was seen near the Masjid At-Taqwa mosque before community members confronted and chased him away. Police later released a description of the suspect as the investigation continues.
In a statement, Washington, D.C, based CAIR said:
“Given the current climate of escalating anti-Muslim hate and violence, federal authorities should join the investigation into this alarming incident and determine whether bias played a role. Muslim communities nationwide are increasingly concerned about threats targeting mosques and worshipers, and every credible threat must be treated with the utmost seriousness.”
CAIR said the incident comes amid a continuing rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric and threats targeting Muslim communities and houses of worship nationwide.
The civil rights organization noted that its 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.
Earlier this week, national Muslim leaders with the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) held a news conference today at the annual Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) conference taking place in Baltimore, Maryland, to address what political leaders must to do to confront anti-Muslim hate and protect houses of worship in the wake of last week’s deadly terror attack on a mosque in San Diego.
At the news conference, the Muslim leaders expressed solidarity with Islamic Center of San Diego and the families of the three martyrs, said politicians must confront rampant anti-Muslim hate and urged mosques and Islamic schools to take steps to improve security.
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: USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal, [email protected]; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, [email protected], 410-971-6062; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]