The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its solidarity with the Australian Muslim community after a man threatened to shoot worshippers at a mosque in Brisbane.
Worshippers at Masjid Taqwa in Brisbane were reportedly threatened by a man who entered the building and claimed he had a weapon outside on Sunday morning. Police later tracked down a suspect who was charged with one count each of creating a public nuisance and disturbing a place of worship. The mosque had been defaced with a swastika and anti-Muslim graffiti in December.
SEE: Brisbane mosque: Man charged after threatening worshippers at Masjid Taqwa mosque
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Australia and thank law enforcement authorities there for taking swift action and apprehending a suspect,” said CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison. “Violent anti-Muslim hate is a threat to Muslim communities everywhere and must be combatted wherever it appears.”
He noted that CAIR previously expressed solidarity with Australians protesting a visit by the genocidal Israeli President Isaac Herzog after police abused protesters and forcibly stopped Muslims from praying.
In January, CAIR expressed solidarity with the Muslim community in Australia following a reported hate attack on an Imam (religious leader) and his wife.
SEE: CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Australian Muslims After Hate Attack on Imam, Wife
Last year, CAIR joined Australian Muslims in denouncing a deadly attack on the Jewish community in that nation and commended a Muslim “hero” for acting to disarm one of the attackers.
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CONTACT: 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