CAIR-LA & Shura Council Condemn, Caution Community Vigilance

Anaheim, CA: The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California held a news conference with leaders of the Muslim community and interfaith representatives to condemn the deadly shooting spree in San Bernardino, Calif., and to offer condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured.

“We unequivocally condemn the horrific act that happened today and we stand in solidarity with fellow Americans and we offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences to the injured, to the families of those who have been killed,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. “We stand in solidarity in repudiating any possible ideology or mindset that could have led to such a horrific act. There is absolutely nothing that could justify [it]. We stand in mourning and sadness for what happened, and we pray for the quick recovery of those who were injured.”

The brother-in-law of the alleged male shooter attended the press conference to express his shock on behalf of the family and condolences to the victims.

Ayloush also remarked that a motive for the shooting is yet to be determined, “We don’t know the motive yet. This could be workplace rage, it could be the result of some mental instability, or it could be some twisted ideological belief.”
CAIR-LA has begun receiving reports of hate incidents against Muslims in the Southern California area. In light of these reports, CAIR-LA is advising the American Muslim community to take all threats seriously and ensure that local law enforcement are contacted in a timely manner to investigate and address them. We urge community members to be extra vigilant.

CAIR-LA's Civil Rights Department is here to assist you with vetting the credibility of the threat and the proper means of reporting.

REPORT AN INCIDENT

1.Report any suspicious activity or individuals to the local police, and to the mosque or organization that it involves.

2.Report Islamophobia, hate incidents, and hate crimes to CAIR-LA, so we can document it, and provide assistance as needed. To contact CAIR-LA's Civil Rights Department call (714) 776-1177 or submit this online form

*Note: all reports to CAIR are confidential, and all services provided by our Civil Rights Department are free of charge.

Additionally, CAIR is urging community leaders, mosque officials, Muslim school administrators, and Muslim organization officials to implement safety measures and increase security efforts as outlined in CAIR's booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety." A free copy can be requested online or by calling (714) 776-1847.