The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a statement calling on law enforcement authorities to address speculation about a possible bias motive in the recent killing of a Muslim family in North Carolina. According to the statement:
February 11, 2015 The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities to address speculation about a possible bias motive for the killing of three young Muslims who were shot in the head yesterday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The alleged killer, 46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks, has been arrested and charged three counts of first-degree murder. He is accused of shooting Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19. Both female victims are pictured online wearing Islamic head scarves (hijab). No motive for the shootings has been released.
On Facebook, Hicks describes himself as an ‘anti-theist’ and has posted condemnations of all religions. One post, a picture from United Atheists of America, asks ‘why radical Christians and radical Muslims are so opposed to each others’ influence when they agree about so many ideological issues.’
Reports of the incident led to widespread speculation on social media that the killings were motivated by anti-Muslim bias.
‘Based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case,’ said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. ‘Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the local community.’
The GMBDW reported in January on an attempt by Nihad Awad, the leader of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), to introject himself into a vigil for the murdered victims in the recent attack on the French Charlie Hebdo magazine. The GMBDW had reported earlier that CAIR had attempted to use the killings to position itself as a defender of free speech despite the fact that one of its leaders had called for worldwide “blasphemy laws” at the time of the 2006 Danish cartoon crisis. In August 2014, we reported on Mr. Awad’s attempt to reinvent himself as a spiritual leader by publicizing his attendance at the funeral of Michael Brown, the teenager who was shot to death by police in Ferguson, Missouri.
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) describes itself as “a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group and as “America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group.” CAIR was founded in 1994 by three officers of the Islamic Association of Palestine, part of the U.S. Hamas infrastructure at that time. Documents discovered in the course of the the terrorism trial of the Holy Land Foundation confirmed that the founders and current leaders of CAIR were part of the Palestine Committee of the Muslim Brotherhood and that CAIR itself is part of the US. Muslim Brotherhood.
For a profile of CAIR, go here.
