Bossier, May 11: In a country known for freedom of religion, the Council on American Islamic relations, or CAIR, says it’s getting more difficult for Muslims to practice theirs. CAIR is an Islamic civil rights group based out of Washington D.C.
Last week A man wrapped strips of bacon around the door handles of a mosque in Bossier City. Muslims do not eat or touch pork because they consider it unclean.
“It’s really an act of intimidation they’re trying to prevent American Muslims from exercising their religious rights by seeking to have them barred from their house of worship,” said CAIR National Communications Director, Ibrahim Hooper.
CAIR says this is just one in a string of offensive acts against Muslims since the death of Osama Bin Laden.
“Vandalism of a mosque in Maine. We had a swastika and the word KKK spray painted on a Muslim family home in Minnesota,” said Hooper.
Islamic leaders say the trend is frightening, which is why the civil rights group asked the FBI to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
“We would need to find out who this perpetrator is and have them arrested and charged appropriately,” said Hooper.
Local Muslims did report the incident to police, but are not pressing charges. Instead, they hope to use this as an opportunity to educate people about their religion.
“I urge the public to come to the mosque and ask your questions. You don’t have to do these actions, these kind of intimidating actions,” said the President of the North Louisiana Islamic Association, Fereidoon Shafiei.
Shafiei also said they hope to plan open houses or classes in the near future to help educate people in the community.
–Agencies