BREAKING NEWS:

CAIR Calls on FBI to Probe Hate Vandalism Targeting Oregon Man Mistaken for Muslim

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/29/2017) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the FBI to investigate apparently bias-motivated vandalism targeting an Oregon man mistaken for a Muslim.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is investigating vandalism reported Tuesday at an Iranian-American man's home in Troutdale, Ore., that included spray-painted hate graffiti such as "f*** you terrorist" and references to "hate" of Muslims and "get out." The vandals also left a note weighed down with bullets arranged in the shape of a cross. The note reportedly stated: "If I see you here next month, I will shoot you and burn your house." The alleged victim is in fact of the Baha'i faith.

SEE: Bias Crime Targets Troutdale Homeowner

"The FBI should join in the investigation of this apparent hate crime in order to demonstrate that the rights and safety of American Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslim, will be protected," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper noted that yesterday, CAIR called for a hate crime investigation of a break-in and vandalism targeting an Alexandria, Va., Muslim family in which "F*** Muslims" was scrawled on a wall in the home.

Video: CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of 'F*** Muslims' Break-In, Vandalism Targeting Virginia Family

Also yesterday, CAIR's Minnesota chapter called on state and federal hate crime charges to be brought against a man who allegedly stabbed and bit a man and then told police he "tried to stab the Somalian in the neck" and "I hate Muslims." CAIR also welcomed an arrest in the vandalism of a Colorado mosque.

Video: CAIR-MN Seeks Hate Crime Charges for 'I Hate Muslims' Stabbing
Video: CAIR Says Colorado Mosque Attack Arrest Reflects National Problem

Last week, CAIR decried what it termed the Trump administration's "deafening silence" on a growing number of anti-Muslim incidents in recent days, part of an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide that began during the recent presidential campaign and accelerated following the November 8 election.

SEE: CAIR Decries Trump Administration's 'Deafening Silence' on Series of Anti-Muslim Incidents Nationwide

Since the beginning of the year, CAIR has called for investigations of possible bias motives for 35 incidents targeting mosques in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas, and a number of other states. By comparison, in the January-March period in 2016, CAIR recorded 19 such incidents.

CAIR: This Map Shows How Many Mosques Have Been Targeted Just This Year (CNN)

In a soon-to-be-published report, CAIR will detail a more than 50 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2016 over 2015. That figure is accompanied by a more than 40 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes in the same period.

CAIR is asking 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 civil rights and advocacy organization urges 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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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]