(SACRAMENTO, CA, 3/15/19) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today mourned the deaths of 49 worshippers gunned down in terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during prayers on Friday, condemned the apparent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate that motivated the attacks, and urged mosques in the United States and worldwide to step up security measures.
A man who claimed responsibility for the attacks left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he said he was a 28-year-old white Australian and a racist. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the attack was carried out “by an extremist right-wing violent terrorist” and media reports indicate that the manifesto posted before the attack includes anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The white supremacist author of the manifesto called himself a supporter of President Donald Trump, whom he sees “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
Authorities have detained four people and defused explosive devices following what appeared to be a carefully-planned terror attack.
SEE: Christchurch shootings at two mosques leave 49 dead, Australian arrested in relation to terror attack
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-15/christchurch-shooting-at-mosques-leads-to-multiple-fatalities/10904306
In a statement, CAIR Sacramento Valley Executive Director Basim Elkarra, who has family in New Zealand, said:
“The horrific white supremacist attack today on our brothers and sisters in New Zealand is heartbreaking and devastating. The Muslim community and our allies are in mourning and are praying for the victims and their families. Amid a marked rise in hate crimes and white nationalism, people of all faiths and backgrounds must stand united to emphatically reject hatred and bigotry. And our nation’s leaders – and leaders worldwide – must seriously confront the dangerous and growing tide of white nationalism and racism.”
CAIR-SV will be participating in a press conference at noon today led by the Council of Sacramento Valley Islamic Organizations (COSVIO) at the SALAM Center, 4545 College Oak Drive, Sacramento.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“To God we belong, and to Him is our return. We mourn the heartbreaking killings of men, women and children gathered for prayer in their houses of worship and urge leaders in our nation and worldwide to speak out forcefully against the growing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate that appears to have motivated these white supremacist terrorists. In the wake of this tragedy, we urge mosques, Islamic schools and other community institutions in the United States and around the world to take stepped-up security precautions, particularly during times of communal prayer.”
Video of the attacks has been posted online. CAIR is asking that the video not be shared.
The Washington-based civil rights organization is urging mosques and other Islamic institutions to take measures outlined in its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet. The advice in CAIR’s security publication is applicable to all institutions, regardless of organizational mission.
The booklet may be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/BestSafetyPractices
CAIR-SV asked the Muslim community to remain vigilant and to contact law enforcement immediately if they encounter anything suspicious. He also encouraged mosques to re-evaluate security measures and called for local law enforcement agencies to send at least one patrol car to stand guard at their local masjid during Friday prayer service.
Some law enforcement agencies have already said they would step up security. In a tweet on Thursday night, the Los Angeles Police Department committed to provide “extra patrols around mosques.”
American mosques and houses of worship have been increasingly under attack in recent years.
CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president and has repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.
SEE: CAIR Says Trump’s Islamophobic ‘Prayer Rug’ Tweet Designed to Distract from Latest Legal Problems
CAIR-CA recorded an 8 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 compared to 2016, as detailed in the 2018 CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report.
Elkarra urged community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-SV’s Civil Rights Department at 916-441-6269 or by filing a report at http://bit.ly/cairsvreport.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SV Communications Manager Kalin Kipling-Mojaddedi, 916-441-6269, kkipling@cair.com
