Texas: FBI Investigates Racial Crimes

19 April 2004

by Anai Rhoads

AnaiRhoads.org - The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) have begun reviewing cases of anti-Muslim attacks in Texas.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the Islamic Centre of El Paso (ICOEP) received a threatening e-mail from an individual who called themself "Freedom Lover" Sunday. In the e-mail, he/she wrote, "your islamic [sic] centre will become the centre of death and destruction...The will of the people has been portrayed to you and your Satan worshiping faith."

The individual is giving the Centre three days to release all Prisoners of War (POWs) in Iraq before attacking the mosque. Local law enforcement have promised to step-up patrol in the area.

"Islamophobic rhetoric is unfortunately on the rise in our society, prompting a minority to act out their bigoted views through threats and violence," said CAIR executive director Nihad Awad. He called on political and religious leaders in Texas to speak out strongly against anti-Muslim hate.

There are roughly five and a half million Muslims in the United States. The hate crimes are on the increase all throughout America. In March of this year, philistines defaced the Lubbock mosque by spray-painting racial slurs inside of the place-of-worship. Four arson-related fires have arisen since early April in San Antonio, Texas.

References:

World Almanac and Book of Facts 1996, Famighetti, pg. 644

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