The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is shocked and disturbed by reports that an Indianapolis Muslim man was set on fire by two men who burst into his restaurant on Friday, March 21, 2003.
MPAC is praying for his speedy recovery and is calling on law enforcement to investigate the case as a hate crime and bring the perpetrators of this inhumane crime to justice.
The incident left the 37-year-old Afghanistan-native with burns on over 60 percent of his body, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported yesterday. The Indianapolis Star also reported that the resulting fire caused more than $150,000 in damage to the victim's restaurant.
The incident comes after a series of hate crimes reported nationally since the outbreak of hostilities with Iraq began last week.
MPAC is concerned about widely documented instances of inflammatory rhetoric against Islam and Muslims that have emanated some media outlets. This type of hate speech has been historically linked to violent incidents, including hate crimes.
"Hate crimes do not happen in a vacuum," said MPAC's Senior Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout, "but develop in an environment that's created by irresponsible media and religious fanatics."
Since the war broke out, MPAC has held three forums on hate crimes and has begun facilitating meetings between law enforcement agencies and Muslim, South Asian and Arab communities to work together to prevent hate acts.
Muslim Public Affairs Council: http://www.mpac.org
Please also read:
There Is No Knowing How Long Muslims in US Will Have to Suffer for 9/11
Sandra Clair, Special to Arab News
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=24349
Please also see:
USA: Amnesty International condemns Operation Liberty Shield - criticizes
blanket detentions for asylum seekers from specific countries
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/mar/22ai.htm
MPAC is praying for his speedy recovery and is calling on law enforcement to investigate the case as a hate crime and bring the perpetrators of this inhumane crime to justice.
The incident left the 37-year-old Afghanistan-native with burns on over 60 percent of his body, the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported yesterday. The Indianapolis Star also reported that the resulting fire caused more than $150,000 in damage to the victim's restaurant.
The incident comes after a series of hate crimes reported nationally since the outbreak of hostilities with Iraq began last week.
MPAC is concerned about widely documented instances of inflammatory rhetoric against Islam and Muslims that have emanated some media outlets. This type of hate speech has been historically linked to violent incidents, including hate crimes.
"Hate crimes do not happen in a vacuum," said MPAC's Senior Advisor Dr. Maher Hathout, "but develop in an environment that's created by irresponsible media and religious fanatics."
Since the war broke out, MPAC has held three forums on hate crimes and has begun facilitating meetings between law enforcement agencies and Muslim, South Asian and Arab communities to work together to prevent hate acts.
Muslim Public Affairs Council: http://www.mpac.org
Please also read:
There Is No Knowing How Long Muslims in US Will Have to Suffer for 9/11
Sandra Clair, Special to Arab News
http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=24349
Please also see:
USA: Amnesty International condemns Operation Liberty Shield - criticizes
blanket detentions for asylum seekers from specific countries
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2003/mar/22ai.htm