The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today joined more than 30 Maryland mosques and Muslim community organizations that are part of the IMAN Network in urging the public to act now to call on officials in Harford County, Maryland, to stand in solidarity with the Harford Islamic Center (HIC)/Masjid Ibrahim.
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The mosque, which recently opened its doors in March of this year after extensive measures to satisfy all the legal, building and zoning requirements, is now once again facing attempts to close down operations by individuals in the area. Some community members attending the mosque have reportedly experienced or observed suspicious or hostile behavior, including invasive questioning and photographs that were taken without permission.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“The HIC board and leadership has patiently and steadfastly worked to satisfy all the necessary requirements to create a safe and welcoming space to serve their growing community’s needs. Just as they join nearly two billion Muslims around the world preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha marking the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca, they’re now once again sadly facing frivolous attempts to uproot and undermine their operations.
“Houses of worship are sacred spaces that unite diverse communities and offer a sanctuary especially during tumultuous times. They all deserve to be protected. CAIR joins the IMAN Network serving over 350,000 Maryland Muslims in urging county and state officials to take steps to end the campaign against this mosque immediately so that the community can have peace of mind and resume their focus on the upcoming Eid festivities and other matters.”
The Islamic Maryland Action Network (IMAN) is a statewide crisis response working group that represents over 350,000 Muslims in the state. Members include over two dozen mosques and Muslim organizations.
SEE: IMAN Network
The IMAN Network’s mission is to foster a coordinated, compassionate, and effective response to crises, uniting diverse Muslim communities across the state.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@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