The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed hate crime charges filed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office against a man accused of assaulting Muslim worshipers outside the Morgan Hill Community Center in Morgan Hill last month.
The suspect allegedly targeted multiple South Valley Islamic Community Center members, including an elderly man and his daughter, following Tarawih prayers during Ramadan on the evening of March 7. The man reportedly shouted anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic remarks while physically assaulting the father and verbally harassing others present. The incident sparked widespread concern and condemnation across the Bay Area’s Muslim and interfaith communities.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Civil Rights Attorney Bismah Jaffer said:
“We are relieved that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is pursuing hate crime charges against the man who harassed and attacked innocent Muslim worshippers while shouting anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic slurs. After working closely with the victims, we know this necessary step helps demonstrate the District Attorney’s support for the Muslim community’s safety and well-being. It also sends a clear message that targeting Muslims, Palestinians, or allies will not be tolerated.”
In an earlier statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo emphasized:
“Worshippers should never have to fear for their safety when attending prayers. Given the rise in Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian hate, swift and serious consequences are essential to ensuring accountability and deterrence.”
The South Valley Islamic Center board of directors added:
“We are grateful to the District Attorney’s Office for treating this incident with the seriousness it deserves. Our community came together during Ramadan in faith, and we should never have to fear being attacked while doing so. We hope this sends a strong message that hate has no home in Morgan Hill.”
CAIR’s 2025 Civil Rights Report found that its offices nationwide received 8,658 complaints in 2024—more than 1,800 of them in California—marking the highest volume of complaints since CAIR began tracking this data in 1996.
CAIR-SFBA encourages anyone who has experienced an act of hate, discrimination, or harassment to contact its Civil Rights Department at 408.986.9874 or visit ca.cair.com/sfba/report-hate-discrimination
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, ladam@cair.com, 408.498.5779