The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a suspect accused of making violent threats against Muslims and Jews targeting Houston’s Ismaili Center.
Jacolby Poindexter, 29, was arrested on a terroristic threat charge Sunday. According to reports, the suspect allegedly threatened to “kill all the Muslims and Jews” before being taken into custody.
CAIR-Texas noted that this incident comes amid rising hate incidents targeting houses of worship nationwide, including the recent deadly shooting attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, where investigators reportedly examined anti-Muslim writings connected to the suspects.
In a statement, Imran Ghani, CAIR-Houston Director of Operations, said:
“We welcome the arrest of the suspect and thank law enforcement for taking these threats seriously. In a climate where hateful rhetoric is increasingly normalized, threats against any faith community must never be dismissed. We urge community members to remain vigilant and to report suspicious or threatening activity immediately.”
Rawan Harirah, President and Chair of CAIR-Texas, added:
“What happened in San Diego, and what nearly happened here in Houston, are painful reminders that hateful rhetoric has real-world consequences for our communities and our houses of worship. Following the threat to the Ismaili Center, we connected with community leaders, elected officials, and law enforcement to reinforce the safety of our neighbors here in Texas. Coordination is vital, but it is not enough. We need sustained vigilance, reporting, and solidarity across all communities to fortify our shield and protect every house of worship in our state.”
CAIR-Texas is calling on elected officials and community leaders to publicly and unequivocally condemn the rising tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric, especially political rhetoric, and to ensure robust safety resources for vulnerable houses of worship. Public servants must take a proactive stance by ensuring local law enforcement treats violent threats with urgency while working directly with community members to foster safety, respect, and civil rights protections for all Texans.
CAIR-Texas urges community members to document and report any instances of bigotry, harassment, or intimidation.
Earlier today, CAIR called on local law enforcement authorities to step up security at mosques and Islamic institutions nationwide after yesterday’s deadly terror attack on a San Diego mosque that left five people dead, including the two attackers, who died from self-inflicted wounds.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also called on Muslim community leaders to utilize its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” bookletto help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Last night, CAIR demanded that politicians end their “campaign of hate” targeting American Muslims after the San Diego terror attack.
Earlier yesterday, CAIR and its San Diego office (CAIR-San Diego) condemned the attack and said CAIR-San Diego representatives are on the scene monitoring developments.
Also yesterday, CAIR’s Texas chapter (CAIR-TX) joined with a number of Dallas–Fort Worth Muslim organizations in calling for an end to the hateful rhetoric and fear-mongering by some Texas politicians.
Last week, CAIR commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “Sharia law.” CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
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: Imran Ghani, CAIR-Houston Operations Manager, ighani@cair.com, 713-922-5270; CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, (832) 549-1042, mcarroll@cair.com; CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi, 512-893-1371, srizvi@cair.com; Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, (512) 785-7105, szayan@cair.com; John T. Floyd, CAIR National Board Member, CAIR-Texas Houston, 713-254-2016, jfloyd@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