CAIR Urges Stepped-Up Protection for Alabama Mosques Following Email Threats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama) today called for stepped-up police protection for the state's Muslim community following emailed threats received by the Birmingham Islamic Society and Huntsville Islamic Center.

Both organizations reported the threats to local law enforcement, the Department of Justice office in North Alabama and the FBI. 

CAIR-Alabama said the emails, with the subject line "YOUR ONE WARNING, stated in part, (grammatical and spelling errors maintained) ". . .MUZLIMS MEXICANS BLACKS WE WILL HUNTED NATION WIDE UNTIL ARE ARE DEAD OR GONE. . .PLAN TO RUN OR DIE, THIS IS A KINDNESS THAT WE GIVE YOU ALL WARNING, TAKE IT AND GO ."

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization believes the emailed threats may be part of a mass mailing to mosques nationwide and is urging Islamic institutions to report any such threats to local police and to CAIR at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html

"We are coordinating with law enforcement authorities to reach out to Muslim community leaders to ensure additional safety measures at this time of increased anti-Muslim bigotry nationwide," said CAIR-Alabama Executive Director Khaula Hadeed. 

She added: "CAIR-Alabama also condemned the rhetoric that continues to embolden bigotry and Islamophobia leading to threats of terrorism such as these against Muslim, Jewish, African-American, and Latino communities. The Muslim community continues to receive support and cooperation from local law enforcement agencies."

"Hate and threats will make us firm in our resolution to fight hate with love.  We will take every opportunity to combat fear-mongering and build alliances and coalition that will give voices to all marginalized communities," said Birmingham Islamic Society President Ashfaq Taufiq.

"America is one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL as guaranteed by the constitution we cherish. We will work together to show the world, by example, how to live and love the diversity we find in this land we call home and defeat the forces of fear and bigotry that are trying to tear us apart. United we are strong," said Huntsville Islamic Center President Mateen Muhammad.

CAIR has noted an unprecedented spike in hate rhetoric and bias-motivated incidents targeting American Muslims and other minorities since the election of President Trump.

Yesterday, CAIR urged state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate an alleged call to violence against American Muslims during a meeting of hate groups in North Carolina.

Video: CAIR Calls on Feds to Probe Threat to 'Kill' U.S. Muslims
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym6LiOCOID4

Last month, CAIR condemned a terror attack on a Canadian mosque by a suspect who had expressed anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments on social media. Six worshipers were killed in the attack and 17 others were wounded.

SEE: CAIR Condemns Terror Attack on Canadian Mosque, Urges U.S. Muslims to Take Security Measures
https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14070-cair-condemns-terror-attack-on-canadian-mosque-urges-u-s-muslims-to-take-security-measures.html

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, The number of anti-Muslim groups in the United States tripled between 2015 and 2016.

Report: Anti-Muslim Groups Triple in U.S. Amid Trump Hate Rhetoric
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/15/report-anti-muslim-groups-triple-us-amid-trump-hate-rhetoric/97914684/

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.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational             
Subscribe to CAIR's Email List
http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe        
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational        
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv               

CONTACT: CAIR-Alabama Executive Director Khaula Hadeed, 205-313-6489, or 334-224-2196 kHadeed@cair.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cair-urges-stepped-up-protection-for-alabama-mosques-following-email-threats-300409906.html

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)