CAIR condemns violence against Muslims in the U.S.

9/23/2004 5:30:00 PM GMT

The Washington-based Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) branch in Houston, Texas held a press conference at which the Muslim civil rights group will urge the Islamic leaders and politicians in Texas to talk openly against the wave of violence against Muslims, which took place recently in the state.

"Unfortunately, when political and religious leaders remain silent on the issue of anti-Muslim hate, bigots mistake that silence for acceptance and act accordingly," said CAIR-Houston Executive Director Iesa Galloway.

One of the most recent of these incidences took place in September 17, when an extremist threw a bomb at five children who were playing in the playground behind the Islamic Center in El Paso, Texas.

The El Paso Times also covered this incidence and it reported that a 57-year-old man name Anthony Florace, threw a gasoline bomb, which he had made himself at five children who were playing behind the Islamic Center.

It added that this act of violence against innocent children shocked the people who are manning the Center.

The paper also said that the bomb did not explode, but the gasoline was spilled on some of the children.

Another similar bomb had also been tossed at the Center. This one was about to explode, had the people in the Center not been quick enough to save the situation at the last minute.

In response to anti-Muslim incidents nationwide following the 9/11 attacks, CAIR published a "Muslim Community Safety Kit."