The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for hate crime charges against a Michigan man for alleged threats targeting a Muslim religious procession in Dearborn, Michigan.
A 27-year-old man from Garden City was arrested on Saturday for allegedly making threats prior to an annual religious procession known as Arba’een. The individual made violent threats towards the participants of the procession and was arrested a few hours before its start at the Karbala Islamic Educational Center in Dearborn.
Arba’een is a religious observance of commemorating the 40th day after the unjust killing of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Husain.
SEE: Man accused of threatening Muslim holiday marchers in Dearborn arrested (Detroit News)
“We call on the Wayne County prosector to charge the alleged perpetrator using the Ethnic Intimidation provision of Michigan law,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “No group of citizens should be threatened with potential violence or intimidated due to their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Walid also mentioned that the Karbala Islamic Educational Center in the past has been vandalized and threatened.
SEE: Mich. Mosques Asked to Boost Security After New Act of Vandalism
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: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com