CAIR-MI FBI PROBES ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS - TOP

(LATHRUP VILLAGE, MI, 2/15/06) - The Michigan office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) announced today that the FBI is investigating recent vandalism and attacks at a Detroit-area mosque.

On February 12, the Al-Islah Islamic Center in Hamtramck, Mich., was vandalized when objects were thrown through a side window located in the mosque’s prayer room while congregants were listening to a lecture.

In January, the Imam of the mosque was assaulted by a group of three men. Later that same week, rocks were thrown through another window, again while congregants were present. All of these incidents have been reported to the Hamtramck Police Department.

On February 13, CAIR-MI representatives met with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Michigan Civil Rights Department Director Linda Parker and informed them about the need to improve police presence in the area of the mosque. CAIR-Mialso asked that law enforcement officials send internal alerts to watch for suspicious activities at Islamic houses of worship, particularly in Hamtramck. Community leaders report that some 15 Muslim merchants have been mugged in less than two weeks.

“We are disturbed by the vandalism of the mosque and the high frequency of attacks that have taken place in a very short time span,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid.