(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 3/28/2017) – The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on state and federal hate crime charges to be brought against a man who allegedly stabbed and bit a man and then told police he “tried to stab the Somalian in the neck” and “I hate Muslims.”
SEE: Minnesota Stabbing Suspect “Tried to Stab the Somalian in the Neck,” Says “I Hate Muslims”
“The suspect’s own statements, as related to police, would indicate an apparent bias motive that should result in additional charges or enhanced sentencing if he is found guilty,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein.
CAIR recently called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate the vandalism of a Colorado mosque early Sunday morning as a possible hate crime. An arrest in that case has just been announced.
CAIR: Man Arrested in Connection with Vandalism Attack on Fort Collins Islamic Center (VIDEO)
Last week, CAIR decried what it termed the Trump administration’s “deafening silence” on a growing number of anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in recent days, part of an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide that began during the recent presidential campaign and accelerated following the November 8 election.
SEE: CAIR Decries Trump Administration’s ”˜Deafening Silence’ on Series of Anti-Muslim Incidents Nationwide
Since the beginning of the year, CAIR has called for investigations of possible bias motives for 34 incidents targeting mosques in Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas, and a number of other states. By comparison, in the January-March period in 2016, CAIR recorded 19 such incidents.
CAIR: This Map Shows How Many Mosques Have Been Targeted Just This Year (CNN)
In a soon-to-be-published report, CAIR will detail a more than 50 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2016 over 2015. That figure is accompanied by a more than 40 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the same period.
CAIR is asking American Muslims and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions and is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.” The booklet may be requested through CAIR’s website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
