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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR: Mich. Muslim's Car Defaced with 'Sand N*gger'
Muslim civil rights group asks police, FBI to probe incident as hate crime

(SOUTHFIELD, MI, 5/14/11) –- The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today called on state and national law enforcement authorities to investigate as a hate crime an incident in which a vehicle was vandalized and defaced with the phrase "f*ckin sand n*gger."

The victim, a Muslim of Indian heritage who wears a beard for religious reasons, reported to CAIR's national office that he discovered the hate graffiti and a damaged windshield wiper Thursday when he returned to his car parked in a public carpool area in Portage, Mich.

Earlier in the day, he had been confronted by a white male upset that the victim's car door may have nicked the side of his truck when it was opened. The window of the victim's vehicle displays a sticker authorizing parking at a local mosque. The incident has been reported to police.

PHOTO: Mich. Muslim's Car Defaced with 'Sand N*gger'

"An ordinary parking lot dispute is no excuse for an act of bias-motivated vandalism," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. "We urge local, state and national law enforcement authorities to treat this incident as a hate crime and to bring appropriate charges against the perpetrator when that person is apprehended."

Walid noted that a number of hate incidents targeting American Muslims, those perceived to be Muslim and Muslim institutions have occurred in the days since the death of Osama bin laden.

In California, a gas station attendant of East Indian heritage was attacked by assailants who called him a "jihadist" and claimed the clerk was angry bin Laden was dead.

SEE: 2 Eureka Men Wanted On Hate Crime Charge (AP)

CAIR asked the FBI to investigate as a possible hate crime an incident in Louisiana in which a mosque was vandalized with pork. [Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products and bigots often use pigs or pork to offend Muslim sensibilities.]

Video: CAIR Calls Louisiana Mosque Vandalism an Act of Intimidation

CAIR also learned that a construction site for a Brooklyn, N.Y., mosque was vandalized in the wake of bin Laden's death. The wall of the Sheepshead Bay property was vandalized with graffiti that stated, "He is dead," in apparent reference to bin Laden.

SEE: Would-Be Mosque's Fence Defaced with Dead Bin Laden Graffiti

Other recent anti-Muslim incidents reported to CAIR following the death of Osama bin Laden include hate vandalism of a Maine mosque, Nazi and KKK graffiti sprayed on the home of a Muslim family in Minnesota, the humiliation of a Texas Muslim student by a teacher, and a hate sign posted near a New York mosque.

CAIR: Bin Laden Death Leads to Maine Mosque Vandalism
Video: CAIR-MN Asks FBI to Probe Hate Graffiti Targeting Muslim Family
Video: Teacher on Leave for Teasing Muslim Student (CAIR-TX)

Muslim religious leaders, or imams, were also barred from flying to a conference on Islamophobia.

Video: CAIR Rep on CNN to Discuss Imams Removed from Flight
Video: Conference on 'Fear of Islam' Reacts to Plane Incident (CAIR)

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.

CONTACT:

CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, E-Mail: dwalid@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com