The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Minnesota) today welcomed the guilty plea of Jackie Rahm Little, 36, for his role in terrorizing the Muslim community with multiple mosque arsons.
Earlier today, Little entered a guilty plea during a Change of Plea Hearing in Courtroom 13E at the Minneapolis Federal Courthouse (300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415) before Judge Ann Montgomery.
Following the hearing, CAIR-Minnesota, community leaders, and impacted members of the Muslim community spoke about the importance of accountability and highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of Minnesota’s houses of worship.
SEE: Minnesota Man Indicted for Mosque Arson
“These violent attacks were meant to instill fear, but instead they have strengthened our community’s resolve,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. “As I was inside the Mercy Center responding to the attack the day before, I recall pulling children from the daycare and evacuating worshipers from the mosque. This attack shocked our community, and today we begin the next chapter as this case moves forward. We welcome accountability and will continue to advocate for change and greater protections for Minnesota’s houses of worship.”
According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little set fire to a bathroom inside the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, just before 7:00 p.m., he was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al-Rahma (Mercy Center). Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque, forcing an evacuation of the building while worshipers and children were inside.
Little was arrested on April 29, 2023, in Mankato. He was indicted on one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property before entering his guilty plea today.
CAIR-MN notes that Little’s actions are part of a larger trend of increased attacks on mosques and Muslim institutions in Minnesota and across the nation. The organization is calling on public officials, law enforcement, and community leaders to prioritize the safety of religious institutions and to address the rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes.
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CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director of CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director of CAIR-MN, 612-408-7183, sadan@cair.com