Virginia Muslims deplore mosque attack

Rasa - Amid increasing trend of Islamophobic attacks against Muslims, a US Muslim advocacy group has called on the American authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack on Virginia mosque as a possible hate crime.

News ID: 2979

Date: 17 July 2015 - 19:43

RNA - “Because of the effort required to sever the air conditioning lines, the history of previous incidents targeting the mosque and the rise in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide, we believe it is essential that law enforcement authorities investigate a possible bias motive for this vandalism,” Ibrahim Hooper, the National Communications Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), was quoted by NBC Washington News.

According to CAIR, an official with Manassas Muslim Association reported heavy copper air conditioning pipes at the mosque were cut Monday as worshipers finished morning prayers.

Worshipers heard a strange noise around 5 am but thought it was trash being picked up, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reported.

When the mosque began to warm up, they went outside and found the severed pipes.

Manassas Police are currently investigating the attack.

The incident comes amid increasing attacks targeting mosques and Muslims, especially women who used the Muslim head cover and dress Islamically.

Another attack targeted Manassas Muslim Association which was opened last year after someone yelled slurs while driving by.

US Muslims, estimated at between seven to eight million, have been sensing hostility since 9/11 attacks.

Anti-Muslim sentiments have reached an all-time high after the rise of the so-called Islamic State, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Facing growing attacks on Muslims, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has launched a new website, Islamophobia.org, to monitor and challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry.

In September 2014, CAIR published “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities” pocket guide that tells American Muslims to report any actual knowledge of criminal activity without being asked by law enforcement authorities.

CAIR’s booklet, called "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety", was published in 2007 in response to previous attacks on American mosques.

The guidelines are designed to be used by mosque officials, Muslim school administrators and other community leaders and activists who seek to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities to bias-motivated attacks.

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