CAIR Welcomes Arrest of Suspect in New York and New Jersey Bombings, Urges Unity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/19/16) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a suspect who is believed to have been involved in recent bombings in New York and New Jersey.
CAIR also urged national unity in the face of violence.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We welcome the arrest of the suspect in this case and hope this ends the series of potentially-deadly incidents. American Muslims, like all Americans reject extremism and violence, and seek a safe and secure nation. Our nation is most secure when we remain united and reject the fear-mongering and guilt by association often utilized following such attacks. We stand together with our fellow Americans in New York, New Jersey and Minnesota as we deal with the troubling phenomenon of domestic terrorism.”
CAIR-NJ Executive Director Jim Sues said: “We thank the law enforcement agencies involved in the apprehension of this suspect for their swift and professional actions.”
“We urge all New Yorkers and Americans across the nation to stand in solidarity against intolerance aimed at dividing communities,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher.
Nasher added that CAIR has noted a spike in anti-Muslim discrimination and hate crimes in recent months, which the civil rights group attributes at least in part to Islamophobic rhetoric used by various public figures, like Donald Trump, who today renewed his call for racial and religious profiling of Americans.
CAIR: Trump Says Fear of Profiling Inhibits U.S. Terrorism Prevention (Bloomberg)
Report: Hate Crimes Targeting Muslims, Arab-Americans Rise Dramatically in 2015
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3110202-SPECIAL-STATUS-REPORT-v5-9-16-16.html
One of the latest anti-Muslim incidents include the firebombing of a mosque in Florida.
SEE: Video: CAIR-Florida Welcomes Arrest of Suspect in Mosque Arson, Applauds Police Actions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qret7JNsGk
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim 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, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR-NJ Executive Director Jim Sues, 908-668-5900, jsues@cair.com; CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Director of Strategic Litigation Albert Cahn, 571-766-6273, acahn@cair.com