Saturday November 5, 2022
By Becca Most
MINNEAPOLIS ― The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities Wednesday to investigate an online threat the chapter received to firebomb its office.
The threat called on CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein to retract a statement he made in October welcoming bias charges against an Ogilvie woman who was charged with assaulting a Black man while using racial slurs in Waite Park last month.
“Retract this statement, and acknowledge that the work you do is absurd, or you and your offices will be firebombed next Saturday,” the message read.
Council on American-Islamic Relations Executive Director Jaylani Hussein talks about damage done to a St. Cloud mosque after a break-in early Thursday morning during a press conference Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in St. Cloud.
More:Woman charged with assault motivated by bias
“As an organization that has successfully defended the civil rights of the American Muslim community and promoted justice for decades, we are neither surprised nor intimidated when anti-Muslim bigots lash out at us with threats of violence," Hussein said in a statement. "However, every threat must be properly investigated to ensure the safety of our community. We call on local, state and federal law enforcement authorities ― including the FBI ― to launch an investigation into this threat.”
Hussein and other members of CAIR-MN hosted a press conference in September after two people broke into the Islamic Center in St. Cloud and vandalized the space. Logan Oliver Smith, 23, of Rogers, and Victoria Catalina Veliz, 25, of New Hope, were arrested on felony burglary charges and the incident is being investigated as a bias-motivated crime.
CAIR-MN director Jaylani Hussein speaks during a solidarity event Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, at the Islamic Center of St. Cloud.
More:Faith and community leaders emphasize love following St. Cloud mosque break-in
The attack came as the second on a mosque in Minnesota within a week, and the fifth attack this year.
You can donate to a GoFundMe created to support the Islamic Center and the community following the break-in