CAIR-Chicago Calls on Local Law Enforcement, FBI to Investigate Burnt Quran Found Outside Chicago Mosque

(CHICAGO, 9/15/10) - CAIR-Chicago announced today that it has reached out to the FBI on behalf of a Chicago mosque that found a burnt Quran on their premises Sunday. Officials from the Muslim Community Center (MCC) contacted CAIR-Chicago after they found the burnt copy of the Islamic holy book. CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Department advised them to report the incident to local law enforcement. Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham also reached out to the FBI yesterday to notify them of the arson.

MCC, located on the Northwest side near Elston and Montrose, is one of the oldest mosques in the city.

“I expect police and federal investigators to thoroughly examine the incident and remain vigilant as there has been a significant rise in these sorts of hateful, Islamophobic incidents across the country,” said Abraham. “We will not let hatemongers spread fear and intimidate Muslims.”

In recent weeks, CAIR-Chicago was approached by a local Islamic charity that is being targeted with violent threats, as well as a Muslim woman from the southwest suburbs who reported that a man followed to her mosque and harassed her outside.

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.

SEE: Quran Burned in East Lansing http://tinyurl.com/2eago75 http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/24980519/index.html

SEE: CAIR Seeks Federal Charges for Hate Graffiti at NY Mosque http://tinyurl.com/2aepnjh

SEE: Phoenix Mosque Vandalism Being Investigated by FBI http://tinyurl.com/2g7mtzg

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CAIR-Chicago is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, encourage dialogue, enhance the understanding of Islam, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT:

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 312.212.1520, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com;

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, 312.212.1520, E-Mail: asharif@cair.com

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