MINNEAPOLIS (Sept. 7, 2016) — The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) on Friday welcomed a federal charge brought against a man who allegedly threatened to blow up a mosque in that state last year.
United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger announced today that a federal criminal complaint was brought against Daniel George Fisher, 57, for allegedly threatening to blow up the Tawfiq Islamic Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Fisher appeared today in U.S. District Court in Saint Paul, Minn. He was charged with one count of “Obstruction of Persons in the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs.”
The Tawfiq Islamic Center reportedly received an anonymous handwritten letter threatening to “blow up your building with all you immigrants in it.” The letter also included “profanities, racial and ethnic slurs, and other derogatory commentary about the religious and cultural practices of the members of the Tawfiq Islamic Center.”
The FBI interviewed Fisher in June. He reportedly told the agents that he had become “increasingly angry with Muslims since 9/11.”
“We welcome the federal charge brought in the case and hope that the prosecution of this individual will send the message that threats targeting religious minorities will not be tolerated,” said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein.
Earlier this month, CAIR-MN called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism of Mankato Islamic Center.
An unprecedented spike in Islamophobic rhetoric and anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in recent months has been attributed at least in part to statements and policy proposals made by public figures like GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and others.
CAIR is urging American Muslims and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions and is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.” The booklet may be requested through CAIR’s website: http://www.cair.com/
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.
