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CAIR-MN Calls for Probe of School Officers' 'Excessive Force' After Muslim Student Called 'F**king Terrorist'
CAIR-MN Calls for Probe of School Officers' 'Excessive Force' After Muslim Student Called 'F**king Terrorist'
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 6/3/2017) -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called for an investigation into the alleged use of excessive force by a security officer and resource officer at a high school in that state.
On Thursday June 1, a female Muslim student at Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minn., was reportedly verbally harassed by a male student and called an 'f**king terrorist." The school security guard, who was first on the scene, allegedly used physical force against the Muslim student. The schools' police officer later arrested the Muslim student.
In the process of her arrest, the student's hijab (head covering) was removed. She was taken to the Apple Valley Police Department, questioned and released.
On Friday, school officials met with the family of the student and informed them that she is suspended until the end of the school year.
CAIR-MN reports that it has received complaints from a dozen Muslim students at Apple Valley High School who feel unsafe due to this and other unreported incidents involving the same officer.
"We are concerned about the apparent use of excessive force in this incident and about the suspension of the Muslim student, who appears to have been a victim of bullying," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. "We are also concerned about the growing number of Muslim students who report feeling unsafe because of how this incident was handled by the school officers."
Hussein added that CAIR-MN has reached out to the school principal and are in talks about the incident.
CAIR-MN Today Sues UPS, Staffing Company for Firing Muslim Workers Over Prayer
CAIR-Minnesota (CAIR-MN) Today Sues UPS, Staffing Company for Firing Muslim Workers Over Prayer
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 6/1/2017) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today announced the filing of a lawsuit in state court against UPS Mail Innovations and Doherty Staffing Solutions for firing multiple Muslim employees who wanted to pray during their break times after previously having allowed them to pray.
The plaintiffs stated that there had been no problem with them using their break time to pray until a new UPS operations manager was hired. He then terminated employees who wanted to pray.
CAIR Welcomes Religious Exemption Granted for Minnesota Teenage Muslim Boxer’s Hijab
CAIR Welcomes Religious Exemption Granted for Minnesota Teenage Muslim Boxer’s Hijab
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/20/17) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a religious exemption granted to a teenage Muslim boxer in Minnesota who was previously barred from competition because she wears an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
Amaiya Zafar, 16, from Oakdale, Minn., will be allowed to compete wearing hijab under a new rule covering religious exemptions that is expected to be formally adopted by the USA Boxing board of directors in June. Under the new rule, which applies only to local “non-advancing matched bouts,” a request for a religious exemption must be made for each event in which the boxer wishes to participate.
CAIR-MN Concerned about Spike in Hate crimes Targeting Minnesota Muslims
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 4/6/17) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) Today expressed concerned about the recent spike of hate crimes targeting Minnesota Muslims. Four hate crime incidents targeting Muslims men and women occurred in a span of two weeks in Minnesota.
On March 25th, Willmar man, Zachary Todd Degraw, 23 choked a Somali cab driver while driving from downtown St. Cloud to a bar east of the city. Degraw, face charges of assault motivated by bias, a gross misdemeanor, and two counts of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault. Drew
"Our community is on edge as we continue to get more reports of hate crimes targeting the Minnesota Muslim Community," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. "We ask our state leaders to publicly repudiate the growing Islamophobia that has resulted in an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes in our state"
Hussein noted four incidents have occurred in a span of two week in Moorhead, two in Minneapolis and in one in St Cloud.
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