(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 12/8/2016) – The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on the FBI to join a hate crime investigation of a dead pig being dumped at an Islamic center in that state. [NOTE: Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products and bigots often use pigs or pork to offend Muslim sensibilities.]
Police say the pig was dumped at the Islamic Center of Lawton in Lawton, Okla., on Tuesday night. Surveillance video shows a pick-up truck pulling into the parking lot of the center and turning around. The truck backs up and the pig’s carcass falls off the tailgate. The vehicle then drives away.
SEE: Lawton Islamic Center Falls Victim to Potential Hate Crime
http://www.kswo.com/story/34010579/lawton-islamic-center-falls-victim-to-potential-hate-crime
Pig Carcass Dumped Outside Oklahoma Mosque in Possible Hate Crime Attack: ‘It Is Religious Intolerance’
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/pig-carcass-dumped-oklahoma-mosque-hate-crime-article-1.2903909
“The FBI should add its resources to the investigation of this case, and all those state and national public figures who promote and exploit the growing Islamophobia in our state and nation should speak out against the post-election wave of such incidents targeting American Muslims,” said CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani.
He said CAIR’s national office has noted an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 presidential election.
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns Third in Series of Islamophobic Attacks, This Time on Uniformed MTA Employee
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13935-cair-ny-condemns-third-in-series-of-islamophobic-attacks-this-time-on-uniformed-mta-employee.html
Video: Harassed Missouri Muslim Family Contacts CAIR After No One Else Would Help
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmBYDA3yQgA
Video: CAIR-CT Calls for Stepped-Up Protection of Mosque that Received Threat Letter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74vwHegLTyQ
Earlier this month, CAIR’s Houston office called for a hate crime investigation of bacon smeared on a the front of a Muslim-owned business in that state.
SEE: CAIR-Houston Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Bacon Smeared on Muslim-Owned Restaurant in Galveston
http://www.cair.com/press-center/13931-cair-houston-calls-for-hate-crime-probe-of-bacon-smeared-on-muslim-owned-restaurant-in-galveston.html
Soltani said CAIR-OK is specifically calling on Oklahoma lawmaker Representative John Bennett (R-Sallisaw), who routinely vilifies Islam and the state’s Muslim community, to condemn the perpetrators and repudiate growing Islamophobia.
Rep. Bennett has been widely criticized for his open hostility toward Islam and Muslims. Most notably, Rep. Bennett has called Islam “a cancer that needs to be cut out of the nation” and has repeatedly stated that he does not consider Islam to be a religion.
SEE: OK Lawmaker Accused of Making Anti-Muslim Remarks
http://www.news9.com/story/26442082/ok-lawmaker-accused-of-making-anti-muslim-remarks
Rep. John Bennett Stands Behind “Threat of Islam” Statements at Sallisaw Republican Meeting
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/religion/rep-john-bennett-stands-behind-threat-of-islam-statements-at/article_de0490b1-7f93-5afe-81df-4b3d52ccb20d.html
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, asoltani@cair.com; CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure, 405-430-9877,vlaizure@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com