CAIR-Kansas Calls for Probe of Possible Bias Motive for Fire That Destroyed Muslim-Owned Restaurant

WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 2 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued the following news release:

The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for a fire that destroyed a Muslim-owned restaurant in Wichita, Kansas.

After the fire destroyed the Petra Mediterranean Restaurant, the owners found the words "Go Back" spray-painted in large letters on the storage unit behind the restaurant.

SEE: Wichita Restaurant Burns Down in What Owners Believe was a Hate Crime (http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article182191451.html)

'Go Back' Written on NE Wichita Business Destroyed By Fire (http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Building-fire-in-NE-Wichita-454396143.html)

"Because of the overall rise in the number of anti-Muslim incidents both nationwide and in Kansas and Wichita specifically, and the alleged hate graffiti found at the scene, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate the possibility of a bias motive for this blaze," said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy.

SEE: CAIR Seeks Protection for U.S. Islamic Institutions After 'Militia' Plan to Attack Kansas Mosque (https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13826-cair-seeks-protection-for-u-s-islamic-institutions-after-militia-plan-to-attack-kansas-mosque.html)

CAIR-Kansas Seeks State, Federal Hate Crime Charges for Shooting of 'Middle Eastern' Men (http://cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14141-cair-kansas-seeks-state-federal-hate-crime-charges-for-shooting-of-middle-eastern-men.html)

CAIR-Kansas Welcomes Guilty Pleas for Hate Attack on Somali Men (http://cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13924-cair-kansas-welcomes-guilty-pleas-for-hate-attack-on-somali-men.html)

The Washington-based civil rights organization said it has witnessed an unprecedented increase in hate incidents targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump.

CAIR: 2017 on Track to Becoming One of the Worst Years Ever for Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes (http://islamophobia.org/articles/209-2017-on-track-to-becoming-one-of-the-worst-years-ever-for-anti-muslim-hate-crimes.html)

CAIR asks community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at:http://www.cair.com/report

Because of the rise in hate incidents, CAIR recently launched an app to share critical "know your rights" information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents.

For a quick download of CAIR's civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.