(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, August 28, 2024) — The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) tonight called on law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for vandalism targeting Darul Hikmah Islamic Center in Minneapolis.
[MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 2 p.m. CT, Darul Hikmah Islamic Center at 2323 E Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis. CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, Tel: (612) 406-0070, Email: jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director, CAIR-MN, Tel: (612) 406-7183, Email: sadan@cair.com]
CAIR-MN says the incident, which took place on Tuesday, Aug. 27, is part of a broader and troubling pattern of violence targeting mosques in Minnesota.
On the early morning of Aug. 27, an individual, believed to be a white male dressed in all black, forcibly entered the Darul Hikmah Islamic Center at 2323 E Franklin Avenue, Minneapolis. Surveillance footage shows the suspect using a metal bar to break into the building and subsequently causing extensive damage, including to the Imam’s (religious leader) office. Initial estimates suggest the damage could be in the thousands of dollars.
This vandalism marks the 35th incident targeting mosques in Minnesota over the past three years, with eight of these attacks occurring in the last two months alone. The alarming frequency of these incidents raises significant concerns about community safety and religious tolerance within the state.
“As we learn more about this latest incident, it adds to the troubling trend of attacks against mosques—three in the last three weeks in Minnesota and 33 over the past three years, leading the nation in such incidents,” said Jaylani Hussein, CAIR-MN Executive Director. “We believe these attacks may be part of a broader effort to intimidate and harm Muslim communities. We call on law enforcement and the community to help bring these perpetrators to justice.”
He noted that last week, CAIR-MNjoined the leadership of Masjid An-Nur at a Minneapolis press conference to address a recent shooting incident that occurred outside the mosque.
SEE: CAIR-MN Director Says Minnesota Leads the Nation in Number of Attacks Against Mosques (Video)
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
CAIR-MN is a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR-MN’s 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.
END
CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, Tel: (612) 406-0070, Email: jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director, CAIR-MN, Tel: (612) 406-7183, Email: sadan@cair.com; Osman Ahmed, Director of Advocacy, CAIR-MN, Tel: (612) 459-0334, Email: o-ahmed@cair.com