The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today called for stepped-up police protection for mosques and Islamic institutions in that state after law enforcement authorities identified a person of interest from Texas who allegedly made threatening calls to the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.
Dearborn Heights Police chief Ahmed Haidar said: “An individual who doesn’t live in our community called here to the mosque and made some threats about maybe burning down the city of Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, a lot of Islamophobia threats that were on audio recording.”
The caller reportedly said: ‘I’m going to burn it down.'”
SEE: Dearborn Heights police investigate alleged threats to burn down a large mosque – Detroit Free Press
This incident comes just one day after CAIR-MI welcomed terrorism charges filed against a Virginia-based white supremacist who allegedly threatened to “kill Muslims” at a Michigan mosque.
In a statement, CAIR-MI Executive DirectorDawud Walid said:
“These threats targeting Michigan mosques reflect a disturbing national trend of emboldened anti-Muslim bigotry. No one should fear for their safety when attending their house of worship. We call on local, state, and federal authorities to provide increased security support to Islamic institutions across Michigan and to treat these threats with the urgency and seriousness they deserve.
“We also urge the public to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community – and all other minority communities – against hate and extremism. Now is the time for all Americans of conscience to speak out against the normalization of bigoted rhetoric and violence.”
Walid again urged community leaders to increase security protocols for all mosques and Islamic institutions.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@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; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com