COMMUNITY ADVISORY
CAIR-AZ Urges Community Members to Avoid and Ignore Anti-Islam Protestors
(PHOENIX, AZ, 5/28/15) — The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) today issued an advisory urging community members to avoid engaging with members of an armed biker gang who are planning an anti-Islam protest Friday evening at a Phoenix mosque. (NOTE: Friday is the Muslim day of communal prayer, or jummah.)
Protest organizers say they will gather outside the Islamic Community Center in Phoenix at 6:15 p.m. and will bring Islamophobic cartoons to harass worshipers.
The rally’s organizer is calling on protesters to “to utilize there second amendment right at this event just in case our first amendment comes under the much anticipated attack.”
SEE: In Arizona, Bikers Plan Armed Protest Outside of Mosque
http://bridge.georgetown.edu/in-arizona-bikers-plan-armed-protest-outside-of-mosque/
CAIR-AZ met with federal and local law enforcement today to discuss protecting worshipers from members of an armed biker gang who are planning an anti-Islam protest Friday evening at a Phoenix mosque.
“We thank our federal and local law enforcement for their proactive effort to ensure the safety of the mosque’s congregation from hated-filled and armed protesters,” said CAIR-AZ Chairman Imraan Siddiqi. “The promise of a heavy police presence at the rally of armed biker gang members will help calm fears of harassment and even attacks on worshipers.”
Earlier this week, CAIR-AZ called state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate threats mailed to Phoenix mosques as acts of domestic terrorism.
SEE: CAIR-AZ Calls on FBI to Probe Terror Threats Mailed to Arizona Mosques
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12993-cair-calls-on-fbi-to-probe-terror-threats-mailed-to-arizona-mosques.html
CAIR-AZ is asking Muslim community members to remain vigilant and to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-AZ’s Civil Rights Department at 480-704-3786 or www.cair-az.org.
A copy of CAIR “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety,” which was published in response to previous attacks on American Muslim institutions, may be requested through its website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
