Islamophobia in the US: Drive-by Shooting Attack on a Muslim Family's Home in Oklahoma City , February 4, 2013

CAIR-OK Seeks Bias Probe of Shooting Attack on Muslim Family's Home(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 2/1/13) --

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate a possible bias motive for an alleged drive-by shooting attack last night on a Muslim family's home in Oklahoma City.

CAIR-OK said a Muslim family of Iranian origin reported that multiple shots from an apparently high-caliber weapon or weapons hit the walls and windows of their home just after 8 p.m. last night. The attack occurred just days after the family's son was approached by an individual who asked him about his religion. A sign in front of the family's home shows a mosque and an Arabic inscription of the Muslim greeting "as-salaamu alaykum," or "peace be to you." No one was hurt in the shooting and police are investigating. CAIR-OK has contacted the Oklahoma City Police Department's Criminal Intent Unit and asked for a hate crime investigation."Any time the home of a family belonging to an ethnic or religious minority is attacked in a potentially deadly manner, it is only prudent to investigate a possible bias motive," said CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani.

Soltani said this incident comes following a rise in hate attacks targeting American Muslims and their institutions in the second half of 2012.

SEE: Eight Attacks, 11 Days (Salon)

CAIR: Arson, Vandalism at Mosques Not Uncommon (Joplin Globe)Just this week, CAIR's Texas chapter welcomed stepped-up protection for Muslims taking part in yesterday's "Texas Muslim Capitol Day" at the state Capitol in Austin. Apparent threats targeting the event had been made on a notorious anti-Islam hate blog.

Video: Security Heightened at Capitol Following Threats to Muslims (CAIR-TX)

Video: Security Increased After Texas Muslims Report Threats (CAIR)

In August 2012, CAIR-OK called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a paintball attack on a mosque in that state as a hate crime.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.

CONTACT:

CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, asoltani@cair.com;

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

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Security Boosted for Texas Muslim Event Following Online Threats

Islamophobia Watch: School Recites Pledge in Arabic, One Nation Under Allah? [CAIR's] Hooper told Fox News he was dumbfounded by complaints about the Arabic version of the pledge. "How on earth is it un-American to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in another language," Hooper asked. "It doesn't make sense unless the people complaining are anti-Muslim or anti-middle eastern bigots."

BREAKING NEWS:

CAIR: Security Boosted for Texas Muslim Event Following Online Threats (AUSTIN, TX, 1/30/2013) – The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) said tonight that law enforcement authorities will offer stepped up protection for Muslims taking part in tomorrow's "Texas Muslim Capitol Day" at the state Capitol in Austin following apparent threats made on a notorious anti-Islam hate blog.

SEE: Resolution Marking Texas Muslim Capitol Day

[ABOUT THURSDAY'S EVENT: A diverse group of Texas Muslims, representing Islamic organizations and mosques from across the state, are expected to take part in the day-long event, which is designed to encourage positive civic participation by Muslims and their interfaith partners. Advocacy training and meetings with elected officials and their staff will take place throughout the day. CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR-Texas's Houston chapter, 832-549-1042, E-Mail: mcarroll@cair.com]

CAIR-Texas contacted law enforcement authorities after learning of apparent threats by commenters on the virulently anti-Islam hate site "Bare Naked Islam."

The threats included statements such as one posted earlier this evening by "chris" (spelling and grammatical errors maintained): "A big bunch of muzzies all in one place eh?? Why not give em a warm Texas welcome. . .How do you Americans say? LOCK AND LOAD!" ["Lock and load" is a slang military command to prepare weapons for battle by locking a magazine into the weapon and loading ammunition into the chamber.]

"Joel Carson" wrote: "Call out the texas militia and kill or capture all participants. What in hell is going on in texas?" Another person wrote: "Screw Moderation!! Every One of them should be looking over his/her shoulder. Did you hear that ?Crack????"

Other commenters suggested having a pork barbeque at the event so that "The smell of the pork ribs on the grill should help drown out the stink from the rump-raisers." (Muslims are prohibited from eating pork and place their foreheads on the ground during daily prayers.)

CAIR-Texas also received a hate call today.

"We have asked state and federal law enforcement authorities to ensure that Texas Muslims may participate in political activities without fear of attack or intimidation, and they have agreed to boost security for Muslim Capitol Day participants," said Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR-Texas's Houston chapter. "We appreciate their swift and professional response to the apparent threats."

Carroll noted that in 2011, CAIR called on the FBI to investigate threats of violence targeting mosques posted on Bare Naked Islam. Articles and comments posted on the hate blog urged attacks on and desecration of American and European mosques.

Video: Blog Threats Target Virginia Mosque

(CAIR) CAIR Asks FBI to Probe Internet Threats to Mosques

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.

CONTACT: Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of CAIR-Texas's Houston chapter, 832-549-1042, E-Mail: mcarroll@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

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Video: Threats Against Muslims Prompt Extra Security at Texas Capitol (CAIR)
"We feel we are in the front lines," explained president of the San Antonio CAIR chapter Sarwat Husain. "We are not doing anything wrong here. We are doing what anybody else does. So for anybody to feel threatened or not to like it, it is ridiculous. We are protecting our First Amendment [rights]."
- Screen Shots of Online Threats to Texas Muslim Capitol Day
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CAIR-PA: Discrimination Against Muslims in a Post-9/11 World
CAIR: FBI Asked to Investigate Agents Who Intimidated Somali Man
CAIR: Ad Campaign Aims to Take Back the Word 'Jihad'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Welcomes Catholic Group's Decision to Drop Anti-Islam Speaker
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik cited Robert Spencer's blog '162 times in his manifesto'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/31/13) -- The nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today applauded a decision by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, Mass., to rescind an invitation to Robert Spencer, the leader of a designated anti-Islam hate group, to speak at a Catholic men's conference this March.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Spencer's invitation to speak at the Catholic conference was rescinded after Muslims in Massachusetts contacted the diocese to express their concerns about his extremist anti-Islam views.

SEE: Catholic Event Cancels Talk by Islam Critic (Boston Globe)
Catholic Diocese Boots Anti-Muslim Speaker (Salon)

At least one Catholic commentator joined CAIR in welcoming the cancelation.

SEE: A Speaker Cancellation to Applaud (National Catholic Reporter)

"We applaud the diocese's decision to withdraw its invitation to a person who is viewed by many as one of the nation's most notorious purveyors of anti-Islam hate," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper noted that "Fear, Inc.," a report by the Center for American Progress, revealed that "[Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik] cited Robert Spencer, one of the anti-Muslim misinformation scholars we profile in this report, and his blog, Jihad Watch, 162 times in his manifesto." Breivik is currently on trial for mass murder in Norway.

Spencer is a co-founder of Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Spencer's Jihad Watch blog is also designated as a hate group by the SPLC, which named Spencer as part of the nation's "Anti-Muslim Inner Circle."

Last year, a prominent New York law firm canceled an event featuring Spencer. The event would have promoted Spencer's claim that Islam's Prophet Muhammad may never have existed.

The independent national media watch group Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) identified Spencer as one of "Islamophobia's Dirty Dozen" who systematically "spread fear, bigotry, and misinformation."

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com

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CAIR-MN Welcomes FBI Probe of Alleged Abuses by Agents

Video: School's Arabic Pledge of Allegiance Leads to Threats

Video: Colorado School's Arabic Pledge of Allegiance Leads to Hate Threats

Resolution Marking Texas Muslim Capitol Day

Texas Muslims to Hold 'Capitol Day' Jan. 31 in Austin

CAIR: 'Jihad' Ads Come to D.C. Metro Stations (Wash. Post)

CAIR-MI: GOP Needs Inclusive Tone on Immigration Reform (Detroit News)

CAIR: US Muslims Push for Immigration Reform

CAIR-MN Welcomes FBI Probe of Alleged Abuses by Agents Agents reportedly used intimidation tactics on Somali Muslim

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 1/30/13) -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today welcomed an FBI investigation into alleged intimidation tactics used on a Somali Muslim by two agents.

Last week, CAIR-MN sent a letter to Special Agent in Charge J. Chris Warrener about allegations of improper behavior by the two agents and asked that an investigation be launched into the matter.

The complainant told CAIR-MN that two FBI agents approached him at his home and sought to pressure him to work for the agency reportedly as an informant. The man said he asserted his right to an attorney three times, but the agents continued to intimidate and coerce him.

According to the complainant, the agents threatened to withhold the man's asylum application, defame him in the Muslim community so others would fear speaking to him and influence his current employment by visiting his job site if he did not agree to work with their office. Two days after the FBI visit, the man was followed by an SUV in which the driver took photographs of him while he was working for a transportation company. A few weeks after his interaction with the FBI, the alleged victim was fired from his job. Last week, a local FBI official contacted CAIR-MN to acknowledge receipt of the letter and to state that the agency is looking into the matter.

The FBI is "prohibited from using threats or coercion" to blackmail individuals. Minnesota law also prohibits such conduct.

SEE: The Informants (Mother Jones) "These tactics of intimidation are not only unethical and detrimental to building trust in the Muslim and Somali community, they are potentially unlawful," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya. "We welcome the FBI's decision to investigate the agents' actions."

Saroya said her office has seen a recent increase in calls from individuals approached to become FBI informants.

Under Minnesota Statute § 609.27 Subds. 1(3)&(4), it is unlawful to threaten to injure a person's profession or reputation in an effort to elicit action against a person's will. Minnesota Statute § 609.43 (1) & (3), deems it unlawful for a public officer or employee to intentionally refuse to perform a known mandatory duty or use color or official authority to injure another.

During a 2009 FBI investigation into Somali men who went abroad to join a terrorist organization, community members reported similar coercive tactics to CAIR-MN.

Community members reported being stopped at random on the streets and in shopping malls; Somali businesses were raided; students were approached by federal agents in campus libraries; community leaders were denied boarding passes without due process; agents talked their way into homes without warrants; non-English-speaking Somalis were interviewed without translators; agents in unmarked cars staked out Somali mosques, and; informants were allegedly sent inside mosques. SEE: Rights Groups Say Somalis Being Stopped, Questioned (MPR) 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.

CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya, 612-327-6700, lsaroya@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com