FBI ASKED TO PROBE ARIZONA ANTI-MUSLIM HATE MESSAGES
Islamophobic signs left at Tempe mosque, Muslim office in Phoenix

(PHOENIX, AZ, 6/13/06) - The Arizona office of
the Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR-AZ) today called on local and national law
enforcement authorities to investigate as bias
crimes hate messages left at a Tempe mosque and at the group's Phoenix office.

Officials of the Islamic Community Center of
Tempe reported to CAIR-AZ that a sign attacking
the Prophet Muhammad and claiming "Muslims
Worship Satan" was left near the mosque sometime last night.

Another message on a hand-written sign placed in
CAIR-AZ's office window sometime over the weekend
stated "Mohammed Rasool Al Shaytan," meaning
"(The Prophet) Muhammad is the messenger of
Satan." This is a distortion of the common
Islamic phrase referring to the Prophet as a messenger of God.

"The fact that this person actually went to the
mosque and to CAIR's office would seem to
indicate a level of hostility that could
potentially result in more than hate speech,"
said CAIR-AZ Office Manager Bushra Khan. She said
local police are investigating both incidents.
Khan said FBI officials should add their
resources to those of local authorities.

In May, Khan was one of several Muslim women who
reported being verbally abused by two people who
said they recently saw the movie "United 93"
about one of the planes hijacked on 9/11.

SEE: CAIR-AZ Muslims Accosted By 'United 93' Viewers
<http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2130&theType=NR>http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2130&theType=NR

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties
group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and
in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,
protect civil liberties, empower American
Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Bushra Khan, 602-262-2247, 202-276-9227, E-Mail: officemanager@cairaz.org;

CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org