CAIR: Burned Quran Found at Michigan Mosque

Muslim civil rights group calls for FBI hate crime probe

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today said it has called on the FBI to launch a hate crime investigation of a burned copy of the Quran, Islam's holy text, found early yesterday at a mosque in that state.

CAIR-MI reports that officials of the Islamic Center of East Lansing say vandals left a burned Quran at the front entrance of the mosque and threw pages from holy text in the streets surrounding center. Torn pages of the Quran appeared to be smeared with feces. An unidentified substance was also found on the floor in front of the mosque's main door. CAIR-MI has contacted the FBI about the incident.

"The perpetrators of this unconscionable act of religious intimidation must be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of state and federal law," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.

Yesterday CAIR called for federal hate crime charges to be brought against three men who allegedly painted a racist slur on a mosque in New York.

Authorities say the men painted the slur "sand n**gers" and an obscenity on the back wall of the Hudson Islamic Center just after midnight Wednesday. They have been charged with aggravated harassment, conspiracy, making graffiti, and criminal mischief.

SEE: CAIR Seeks Federal Charges for Hate Graffiti at NY Mosque

http://tinyurl.com/2aepnjh

Earlier this week, CAIR called on the FBI to investigate a possible bias motive for recent vandalism at a Phoenix mosque site.

CAIR-AZ: Phoenix Mosque Vandalism Being Investigated by FBI

http://tinyurl.com/2g7mtzg  

Mosques in California, Tennessee, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Texas, and Florida have faced vocal opposition or have been targeted by hate incidents in recent months.

CAIR recently launched a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign designed to challenge growing Islamophobia in America.

SEE: American Muslims Speak Out: 9/11 Happened to Us All

http://tinyurl.com/2bhkag2  

Editor Suggests Denying Constitutional Rights to Muslims

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/opinion/12kristof.html  

Conn. Imam's House Targeted

http://tinyurl.com/22kl7xq  

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization also launched a "Learn, Don't Burn" educational initiative in response to an extremist Gainesville, Fla., church's now-canceled plan to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's holy text, on September 11.

SEE: CAIR Responds to Fla. Book Burning with Educational Campaign

http://tinyurl.com/2cq2hb8  

American Muslim individuals and institutions are also being urged to review advice on security procedures contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

SEE: Muslim Community Safety Kit

http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx    

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.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook

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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations