(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/24/15) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to consider bringing hate crime charges against a man arrested after allegedly threatening Muslim worshipers this morning at an prayer service in Ohio.
According to police, a man threatened worshipers gathered for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha at the Islamic Center of Cleveland in Parma, Ohio. The man reportedly called the worshipers “terrorists” and reached for something in his car. Police later discovered he had a hatchet under his car seat. The suspect is in custody and is expected to appear in court on Friday.