CAIR-NY Condemns Alleged Hate Crime at Queens Church
(NEW YORK, NY, 7/2/2024) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a hate crime investigation into the vandalism of a church statue in Fresh Meadows, Queens.
A yellow cab driver reportedly vandalized a statue at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Fresh Meadows early Sunday morning. Surveillance footage shows the suspect stopping his cab, removing his shoe, and using it to decapitate the Child Jesus statue. The investigation by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is ongoing.
SEE: Church statue vandalized in Fresh Meadows, cops seek cab driver as part of hate crime investigation
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. said:
“We strongly condemn acts of vandalism targeting any faith community. Attacks on any place of worship are attacks on all faith communities. We urge the NYPD to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice and to ensure the safety and security of all religious institutions.”
Last month, CAIR-NY welcomed the arrest of a man who allegedly harassed a Muslim teenager and ripped off her Islamic head scarf, or hijab, and welcomed a hate crime charge brought against a suspect who allegedly attacked a Muslim woman on a subway train platform in April. CAIR-NY also welcomed an investigation by the NYPD into a possible bias motive in the vandalism of a mosque in Brooklyn.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., Executive Director, anasher@cair.com, 917-669-4006;
Saira Amar, MPA, CAIR-NY, Communications Coordinator, SAmar@cair.com