CAIR-NY, AMAL to Call for Islamophobia Hearings After Hate Attack Outside Bronx Mosque
(NEW YORK, NY, 6/19/16) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) and the Association of Muslim American Lawyers (AMAL) will call on the New York City Council to hold public hearings on growing Islamophobia after a Muslim man was attacked outside a Bronx mosque.
[MEDIA NOTE: Tomorrow, CAIR and the Center for Race and Gender at UC Berkeley will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C., to release a report detailing the more than $200 million provided to 33 Islamophobic groups nationwide in recent years.]
SEE: CAIR, UC Berkeley Center to Release Report Exposing Funding of Islamophobic Groups in America
Mohammed Atique Ashraf was attacked from behind by three men as he went to the mosque for prayers on Thursday night. He believes his Islamic attire made him a target. He said the alleged attackers made comments about him being a Muslim. Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
SEE: Muslim Man Beaten on the Way to Bronx Mosque in Apparent Hate Crime
Muslim Man Attacked Outside Parkchester Mosque
According to a Muslim community activist, there have been six similar incidents since December.
Earlier this month, CAIR-NY called on the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to investigate a possible bias motive for an alleged attack on a Muslim man outside a Queens mosque.
SEE: CAIR-NY Asks NYPD to Probe Bias Motive for Attack on Muslim Outside Queens Mosque
“Given the high number of hate crimes, reported and unreported, and the rising tide of Islamophobia, it is overdue that local politicians hear from their local and growing Muslim constituents,” said Iman Boukadoum, Esq. from the Association of Muslim American Lawyers (AMAL).
“We call on the New York City Council to immediately hold public hearings on growing Islamophobia and hate crimes in our city and state,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher.
She noted that CAIR recently issued a national community security alert urging Muslim community leaders to consider instituting additional security measures in the wake of the Orlando massacre and a number of recent hate incidents targeting Muslims and Islamic houses of worship.
Nasher noted that incidents targeting American Muslims and their religious institutions have spiked in recent months, prompted at least in part by anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by public figures like Donald Trump.
CAIR: Mosques Increase Security as Anti-Muslim Actions Rise
Video: CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Probe of Assault on Maryland Muslim Mother, Daughter
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.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you may call CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or email civilrights@cair.com.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, (917) 669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; Iman Boukadoum, Esq., The Association of Muslim American Lawyers (AMAL), (703) 424-8463