The North Carolina office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, joined community members in helping to paint over hate vandalism targeting a mosque in that state.
CAIR-NC previously called for a hate crime probe of the vandalism.
That vandalism targeting Al-Mu’minun Masjid in Statesville, North Carolina, included the phrase “go home,” a cross, a scribbled image of a dead pig, and the number 1683 spray-painted on the side of the mosque, an apparent reference the year of a battle between Muslims and Christians in Europe.
[NOTE: “Masjid” is the Arabic word for “mosque.” Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products and bigots often use pigs or pork to offend Muslim sensibilities.]
Washington, D.C., based CAIR is urging community leaders to utilize its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NC Community Engagement Manager Al Rieder, 202-742-6421, arieder@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