CAIR: Bin Laden Death Leads to Maine Mosque Vandalism

'Osama today, Islam tomorow (sic)' painted on Muslim house of worship

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/2/2011) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Americans of all faiths to remain unified after the killing of Osama bin Laden apparently led to the bias-motivated vandalism of a mosque in Portland, Me.

CAIR also called on state and national law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident as a hate crime.

Portland police are investigating the anti-Islam graffiti, which included "Osama today, Islam tomorow (sic)," "Long live the West" and "Free Cyprus," painted on the exterior of the Maine Muslims Community Center sometime between late Sunday night and this morning.

SEE: Graffiti on Portland Mosque Under Investigation
Portland Mosque Vandalized in Wake of bin Laden Death

"We ask Americans of all faiths to reject intolerance and to send a message of national unity to the rest of the world," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "We urge state law enforcement authorities and the FBI to investigate this incident as a hate crime."

Earlier today at a news conference in Washington, D.C. CAIR and other national Muslim organizations welcomed the announcement of the elimination of Osama bin Laden as a threat to America and the world. CAIR chapters nationwide issued similar statements.

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Those taking part in this morning's news conference included representatives of CAIR, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation (MAS-Freedom), and the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organization in the Washington, D.C., area.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected]

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