WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the identification of a suspect in the November arson at a mosque in Albuquerque.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also renewed its call for possible hate crime charges for the arson (link).
Police have issued an arrest warrant for 43-year-old Isela Camarena for allegedly attempting to set fire to the Islamic Center of New Mexico Nov. 29 in Albuquerque. Security camera video of the incident shows a woman lighting multiple fires near the mosque’s prayer room.
Camarena had reportedly been to the mosque twice before the vandalism, and police say she once pulled a fire alarm. Police and mosque officials believe she was trying to test security measures. Camarena is facing a third-degree felony arson charge.
See: Arrest warrant out for possible Mosque arson suspect Isela Camarena here.
See: Authorities identify Islamic Center arson suspect here.
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said, “We welcome the identification of a suspect in this disturbing attack on a house of worship and urge law enforcement authorities to consider possible hate crime charges if a bias motive is indicated by the evidence gathered in the investigation. As hate incidents target minority communities nationwide, a clear message needs to be sent that bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated.”
Hooper noted that CAIR called for a hate crime investigation into the vandalism earlier this month.
See: BREAKING: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Arson Targeting New Mexico Mosque here.
Hooper also noted that yesterday, CAIR-Arizona called for stepped-up security at mosques in that state following an assault and vandalism at a mosque in Tucson.
See: CAIR-Arizona Calls for Stepped-Up Security after Tucson Assault and Mosque Vandalism here.
CAIR-AZ: “With violent incidents targeting minority communities…attack must be taken seriously” (Video)
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.