BREAKING NEWS:

CAIR-Iowa Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Anti-Muslim Message Left at Mosque

(CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, 3/19/17) -- The Iowa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Iowa), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, tonight called for a hate crime investigation of an anti-Muslim message left at a mosque in that state.

A message, signed "Americans for a Better Way," calling Muslims "vile" and "filthy" was left at the Islamic Center of Des Moines this weekend. It appears to have been written by a supporter of President Donald Trump, and stated that Trump is "going to do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews," and that it "would be wise to pack your bags" and leave.

SEE: Disturbing Anti-Islamic Note Rattles Community

Similar threats and hate messages have been sent recently to other Iowa mosques, and to mosques in a number of other states, including Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Georgia.

SEE: CAIR-Georgia Urges Stepped-Up Security After Four Mosques Receive Threats
Video: CAIR-Alabama Says Other Mosques May Have Received Threats

"We call on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate this message of intimidation targeting a house of worship as a hate crime and to bring the perpetrator to justice," said CAIR-Iowa Executive Director Miriam Amer.

She noted that a soon-to-be-published CAIR report on Islamophobia in America is expected to show that 2016 was the worst year on record for incidents in which mosques were targets of bias.

CAIR's Arizona chapter recently called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate the desecration of copies of the Quran, Islam's holy text, by an intruder at a Tucson mosque.

Video: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Quran Desecration at Tucson Mosque

The Texas office of CAIR also welcomed an arrest of a man suspected of setting fire to the Islamic Center of Victoria in Victoria, Texas, in January.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Arrest in Arson Attack on Texas Mosque

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

CAIR's national headquarters in Washington, D.C., has noted an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8election.

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-Iowa Executive Director Miriam Amer, 319-573-6617, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]