CAIR urges police alert during Ramadan

10/8/2004 4:00:00 PM GMT

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) urged law enforcement agencies Thursday to guard mosques during the month of Ramadan, which starts next week.

The Washington-based Islamic advocacy group issued the call after a series of attacks against Islamic institutions in the Midwest.

CAIR reported that vandals smeared feces on a Fargo, N.D., mosque and tobacco juice had also been spit on the doorknob of the mosque.

The vandalism attacks occurred at about 9 p.m. Saturday and was reported Sunday morning by Yahya Frederickson while he was leaving the premises after morning prayer.

"It looked like there were feces that had been smeared on the back door and toilet paper that had been stuck in it," Frederickson said.

"We hope it's just an isolated incident," said Islamic Society of Fargo-Moorhead President Mohamed Fakhr. The men said that the community has been supporting Muslims in the area since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

CAIR also reported that two Islamic centers were vandalized recently in the neighboring state of Minnesota.

The organization also said that firebombs were thrown at an El Paso mosque in Texas last month.

In Washington, a Muslim prayer area at the American University was also attacked.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. During this period Muslims fast during daylight hours then eat small evening meals and visit with friends and family.