17 March 2024
The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT), America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, on Saturday, called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a bag of pork left at the entrance of Masjid An Noor in Bridgeport as a possible hate crime, reports CAIR-CT.
This apparent hate incident occurred as Muslims are marking the holy month of Ramadan.
Surveillance footage from the mosque’s cameras shows an individual leaving the bag, which was later found to contain bacon, at the mosque’s entrance. Muslims are prohibited from eating pork products, and this act was apparently intended to offend and intimidate the Muslim community.
“Leaving a bag of pork at a mosque, especially during the sacred month of Ramadan, is a blatant act of hate, disrespect and intimidation,” said Farhan Memon, chairman of CAIR-CT. “This is not just an isolated incident; it is a targeted attack on the Muslim community and an attempt to disrupt our religious observances.”
He added: “CAIR-CT is calling on local and state law enforcement agencies to investigate this incident as a hate crime. We urge anyone with information about this act to come forward and assist in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
“We stand in solidarity with Masjid An Noor and the entire Muslim community in Bridgeport and across Connecticut. We will not be intimidated by acts of hate, and we will continue to practice our faith with dignity and resilience.
“We call on people of all faiths and backgrounds to stand together against hate and bigotry in all its forms. An attack on one faith community is an attack on all communities.”
The report said CAIR-CT is in contact with local law enforcement and the mosque’s leadership to ensure the safety and security of the community.
Memon noted that CAIR recently released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.
He urged houses of worship to utilize CAIR’s Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety guide, which contains security advice applicable to institutions of all faiths.
Last week, CAIR called for hate crime charges to be filed against two individuals for an incident in which one of them allegedly urinated on the doorstep of a Tennessee mosque.
