(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 11/2/17) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate telephone threats made to a mosque in that state as a possible hate crime.
Masjid Omar Mosque in Paterson, N.J., received verbal threats via telephone after word spread that the suspect in the killing of eight people Tuesday in Lower Manhattan may have worshiped there.
SEE: Police: Paterson Mosque Gets Threats After NYC Terror Attack
South Paterson Mosque Gets Phone Threats After New York City Terror Attack
“We urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to treat this and all the other cases of threats and violence targeting American mosques with the seriousness they deserve and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said CAIR New Jersey Executive Director Jim Sues. “We ask that law enforcement officials be especially vigilant at a time when the risk of backlash against the Muslim community is most severe.”
Earlier today, CAIR’s Kansas chapter called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for a fire that destroyed a Muslim-owned restaurant in Wichita, Kansas.
SEE: CAIR-Kansas Calls for Probe of Possible Bias Motive for Fire That Destroyed Muslim-Owned Restaurant
Since the beginning of the year, CAIR’s national office has called for investigations of possible bias motives for dozens of other incidents targeting mosques in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas, and a number of other states.
CAIR is urging American Muslims and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions and is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.” The booklet may be requested through CAIR’s website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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