FOR IMMEDIETE RELEASE

(CHICAGO, IL, 9/18/18) -- The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for a hate crime investigation of Islamophobic vandalism targeting a Muslim family’s home in Homer Glen, IL, on Sept. 17.

A Muslim physician informed CAIR-Chicago and local law enforcement authorities about a graffiti attack at his elderly parents’ property. The vandalism involved spraying an anti-Muslim message and crosses on the sidewalk and in front of the house, as well as vandalizing the family’s car in the driveway. The obscene sidewalk message read “Muhammed, P**s Be Upon Him.” The vandals also sprayed black paint over the brake lights of the car.

[NOTE: When Muslims refer to Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, they add the phrase “peace be upon him.” The obscene graffiti was an apparent attempt at degradation.]

The family has lived in the house for more than 20 years. 

In a statement, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said:

“These kinds of cowardly attacks are designed to do one thing: make people feel unwelcome and unsafe, even in the sanctity of their own homes, for no other reason than their personal choice of faith. As such, these types of attacks are antithetical to our constitutional values, to the spirit of our freedoms and to common decency, they must always be met with zero tolerance.

“We call on the sheriff’s department to investigate this incident with its full resources and resolve, and to increase patrols in the area. We call on those who are visibly Muslim, and their neighbors, to be extra vigilant and to report any suspicious behavior. Hate-mongering and fear-mongering as a way of life are a scourge on our collective security and prosperity and so require a united and defiant stance from us all.”

CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president, and recently released an update on anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in the second quarter (April-June) of 2018 indicating that anti-Muslim bias incidents and hate crimes are up 83 and 21 percent respectively, as compared to the first quarter of 2018.

SEE: CAIR Report: Anti-Muslim Bias Incidents, Hate Crimes Spike in Second Quarter of 2018

CAIR-Chicago is the Chicago office of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Our mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance. 

CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Saadia Pervaiz, 312-212-1520, spervaiz@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Asha Binbek, 312-212-1520, abinbek@cair.com