The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned a recent hate incident targeting the Islamic Society of Simi Valley, as well as reports of other mosques in Claremont and La Mirada being targeted.
CAIR-LA also urged local Muslim community leaders to heighten safety awareness as Islamophobia continues to rise nationwide.
SEE: Police investigating possible hate crime at Islamic Society of Simi Valley building
On the evening of Tuesday, April 7, the Simi Valley Police Department (SVPD) responded to a report that “hate material” was left outside the front door of the Simi Valley mosque. Authorities reported they are investigating it as a possible hate incident.
CAIR-LA is also investigating reports that two other local mosques have received threatening and hateful communications in recent days.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“The targeting of the Islamic Society of Simi Valley, alongside reports of hate incidents targeting two other local mosques, is deeply alarming and comes at a time when Muslims across the nation are facing an unprecedented wave of hate. These Islamophobic incidents contribute to a growing climate of fear and division, where Muslims feel increasingly unsafe in their own communities and places of worship.
“We urge all mosques and community centers to remain vigilant and immediately report any incidents or suspicious activity to CAIR-LA and local law enforcement.”
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.
CAIR-LA urges mosque leaders to maintain increased awareness and utilize resources to maintain community safety, including CAIR’s “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet, which offers advice on how to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths. The organization also published a guide on mosque security, which advises mosque leadership on what to do if their place of worship is targeted by hate.
To report any bias or hate incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 2) or click here to file a report.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com