PRESS RELEASE: Graffiti sprayed on Muslim cemetery sign in La Grange Park, Illinois
CAIR-Chicago seeks probe of bias motive for Muslim cemetery graffiti (CHICAGO, IL, 1/15/2013) The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today urged law enforcement authorities to consider a possible bias motive for graffiti targeting the main sign of the Muslim Cemetery of Greater Chicago at Parkholm cemetery in La Grange Park, Ill.
SEE: Photos of graffiti on Muslim cemetery sign
CAIR-Chicago said an anonymous community member saw the graffiti while driving by the cemetery last weekend. Cemetery officials and the LaGrange Park Police Department verified that they received reports of the graffiti. The graffiti was removed yesterday. The CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Department is working with the cemetery director on this incident, the second reported attack on a Muslim cemetery in the Chicagoland area within the past six months.
“Whenever a symbol of any faith is targeted in this manner, it makes sense to consider a bias motive for the crime,” said CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab.
In August of last year, Muslim graves at the Evergreen Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Ill., were desecrated with anti-Islam hate graffiti. The hate graffiti included the words "RAGHAED KILLER" (sic) and insults to Islam’s Prophet Muhammad.
VIDEO: CAIR-Chicago responds to hateful graffiti on Muslim grave
CAIR-Chicago is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
CONTACT:
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, arehab@cair.com, 312.212.1520 CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Aymen Abdel Halim, ahalim@cair.com, 312.212.1520
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