Racial Issues: Rights group condemns attack on Tennessee mosque

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said today that hate vandalism at a Tennessee mosque re-emphasizes the need for religious and political leaders to speak out against growing Islamophobia in American society.

CAIR, a Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said vandals spray-painted "Muslims go home" and crosses on the exterior of the Al-Farooq Mosque in Nashville. The FBI has been notified of the vandalism.

SEE: Nashville Mosque Vandalized (The Tennessean)

"As we have said each time a mosque is vandalized or an American Muslim is the target of a bias-motivated attack, it is the duty of our nation's religious and political leaders to speak out against the rising level of Islamophobia nationwide," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The FBI should investigate this incident as a hate crime against a religious minority."

Awad noted that a recent survey showed that more than 4 in 10 Americans admit to anti-Muslim prejudice.

SEE: Poll on Anti-Islam Bias Shows Need for U.S. Muslim Outreach

SEE ALSO: Injured Texas Muslim Student Says He Did Report Bullying

Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations

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