Mosques warned of increased arson during Ramadan
Muslim Civil Rights Group Releases Ramadan Arson Awareness Notice to Mosques Nationwide. Group Urges Vigilance, Prevention and Reporting during the Holy Month
Muslim Advocates, a national legal, advocacy and educational organization for American Muslims, issued an arson awareness notice last night to mosques nationwide. The alert comes during this year’s Arson Awareness Week (May 7-13) with is sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and in advance of Ramadan, which begins in the last week of May. The notice urges mosques to implement best practices for preventing arson and to report acts of vandalism.
A recent wave of mosque burnings and vandalism has caused a heightened awareness of the need for arson prevention and reporting. In just 2017, five different mosque fires—in Austin, TX, Victoria, TX, Bellevue, WA, Tampa, FL, and Pittsfield Township, MI— have either been ruled as or are under investigation as arson.
For many Muslims around the world, the Islamic month of Ramadan is a time for fasting and prayer. Mosques around the country will open their doors to thousands of worshipers in their communities, and will host events, activities and prayers throughout the month. However, in recent years, Ramadan has also been a time for heightened vigilance by congregants because of the increase in hate violence targeting Muslims and houses of worship.
“American Muslims should never be afraid to worship or attend their mosque.” said Madihha Ahussain, special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry for Muslim Advocates. “But we know we have to look out for the safety and security of our community, now more than ever. Mosques and congregants can take concrete steps to ensure that safety and we hope our resource guide can assist them.”
The organization’s arson awareness notice was distributed electronically to mosques, Muslim charities, and activists nationwide and is available here. It includes guidance and resources from FEMA on best practices to prevent arson like installing security cameras and enhanced lighting or creating barriers between the street and the mosque.
The notice also includes tips for preventative community engagement like building relationships with local fire and police departments, neighbors and other faith communities.
Muslim Advocates also strongly encourages mosques and charities to report acts of vandalism on their secure online form—affiliated with the Communities Against Hate initiative—and to police.
“In the event of a possible arson, mosques should immediately report to their local police department and to Muslim Advocates,” said Ahussain. “A mosque burning leaves major scars on entire communities. It’s often hard for arson victims to stand up and be a witness but the greatest deterrent to vandals is knowing that their actions will not break our spirit.”
Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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