The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Minnesota chapter (CAIR-MN) today welcomed the sentencing of a man for acts of arson targeting two Twin Cities mosques.
Jackie Rahm Little, 39, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to arson and damage to religious property, which is a federal hate crime.
Over the past three years, Minnesota has faced the worst level of mosque attacks in the nation, with more than 40 incidents and over $3 million in damages. Arson has been on the rise, with six separate incidents in recent years, including three serious arsons.
In a statement,CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said:
“We welcome this sentencing as an important step toward accountability and justice for the targeted Muslim communities. Acts of arson against houses of worship are intended to terrorize entire communities and undermine the fundamental right to religious freedom.
“While no sentence can fully repair the trauma and damage caused by these attacks, this outcome sends a clear message that hate-fueled violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We remain committed to working with law enforcement, elected officials, and community partners to ensure the safety and security of all houses of worship across Minnesota.”
He noted that CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet, which offers advice on how to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths.
CAIR-MN is the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
END
CONTACTS: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-408-7183, sadan@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