Related Resources • Islamic Activism • September 11

Elsewhere on the Web • Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) • Muslim leaders meet with FBI director

The FBI has warned that a war with Iraq (or another terrorist attack against Americans) could trigger a wave of hate crimes against Muslims and Arab-Americans in the United States.  We saw this occur in the weeks and months following September 11th, and unfortunately the sense of public fear and anger again means that innocent people could become scapegoats.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has prepared a proactive, comprehensive safety kit for members of the Muslim community (or those perceived as belonging to the Muslim community).  It is important for mosque officials, community leaders, teachers, and others to head the warnings and make the recommended preparations.  The information includes:

• Reporting suspicious activity in your community (to the FBI)
• Developing a legal contact list
• Developing positive relationships with law enforcement agencies
• Meeting with elected representatives to discuss community concerns
• Building coalitions with interfaith and minority groups
• Meeting with local school principals to discuss student safety
• Building an emergency contact list
• Holding a community meeting to inform others of safety guidelines
• Building a community support network
• Reacting to incidents of anti-Muslim hate
• Reacting to acts of discrimination
• Your rights as an employee
• Your rights as an airline passenger
• Your rights as a student
• Mosque safety guidelines
• Responding to bomb threats
• Bomb threat checklist
• Suspect letters and packages
• Know your rights if contacted by the FBI
• CAIR local chapters

The entire kit is available from CAIR's website:  http://www.cair-net.org/