(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/28/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the identification of a suspect in the November arson at a mosque in Albuquerque, N.M.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also renewed its call for possible hate crime charges for the arson.
Police have issued an arrest warrant for 43-year-old Isela Camarena for allegedly attempting to set fire to the Islamic Center of New Mexico in Albuquerque on November 29th. Security camera video of the incident shows a woman lighting multiple fires near the mosque’s prayer room.
Camarena had reportedly been to the mosque twice before the vandalism, and police say she once pulled a fire alarm. Police and mosque officials believe she was trying to test security measures. Camarena is facing a third-degree felony arson charge.
SEE: Arrest warrant out for possible Mosque arson suspect Isela Camarena
https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/arrest-warrant-out-for-possible-mosque-arson-suspect/
Authorities identify Islamic Center arson suspect
https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/authorities-identify-islamic-center-arson-suspect/6343925/
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“We welcome the identification of a suspect in this disturbing attack on a house of worship and urge law enforcement authorities to consider possible hate crime charges if a bias motive is indicated by the evidence gathered in the investigation. As hate incidents target minority communities nationwide, a clear message needs to be sent that bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated.”
Hooper noted that CAIR called for a hate crime investigation into the vandalism earlier this month.
SEE: BREAKING: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Arson Targeting New Mexico Mosque
He also noted that yesterday, CAIR-Arizona called for stepped-up security mosques in that state following an assault and vandalism at a mosque in Tucson.
SEE: CAIR-Arizona Calls for Stepped-Up Security after Tucson Assault and Mosque Vandalism
CAIR-AZ: “With violent incidents targeting minority communities…attack must be taken seriously” (Video)
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La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: 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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com