Shafaqna English- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an investigation into vandalism targeting a Maryland mosque.
On Wednesday evening, an unknown male reportedly approached the Islamic Society of Frederick in Frederick, Maryland, ripped off a large American flag that was displayed at the gate at the entrance of the mosque and walked away. There were members of the congregation inside the mosque during the incident.
“Targeting a house of worship and tearing down a symbol like the American flag is an apparent attempt to intimidate the local Muslim community. We urge law enforcement authorities to investigate this troubling incident as a potential hate crime. Every community deserves to feel safe and secure in their place of worship”, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said.
CAIR is calling on Muslim community leaders to utilize its current resources to help keep religious facilities safe.
Washington, D.C.-based CAIR recently said it has documented 17 incidents targeting Islamic places of worship in May, June, and July to date. The 17 incidents represent 51 percent of the previous year’s total and a 183 percent increase over the same three-month period last year, during which CAIR documented six such incidents.