Muslims Seek Probe of Illinois Mosque Shots
"Incidents such as this have a chilling effect on worshippers," Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago).
“No one should have to go to their place of worship worried if they'll make it back home alive,” he added.
The attack occurred early on Tuesday morning when a single shot was reportedly fired through the dome of the mosque during the Fajr, or break-of-dawn, prayer.
According to Imam Nazir Chahin, who was leading prayer at the time, the bullet penetrated the dome and caused debris to fall and disrupt the prayer service of the some 40 worshipers. No injuries have been reported.
Orland Park Police were immediately contacted and are currently investigating the shooting.
CAIR-Chicago contacted the Orland Police, demanding increased police patrols at the mosque and asking for an FBI investigation on the attack.
Earlier this month, CAIR called for a similar FBI probe into a shooting targeting a Mississippi mosque.
The Orland Park Prayer Center had faced opposition from when it was being built.
Operating for many years, the mosque has been lauded by local officials and interfaith leaders for its positive contributions to the economic and cultural benefit of Orland Park.
"Given the previous attacks on houses of worship, we are reminded that whether it is a mosque, a Gurdwara or a temple, such an attack is not just an assault on the particular faith community it targets, but against all Americans and on our coveted core value of freedom of religion," said Rehab.
In response to previous attacks on American mosques, CAIR published a booklet called "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety".
The guidelines are designed to be used by mosque officials, Muslim school administrators and other community leaders and activists who seek to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities to bias-motivated attacks.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), an umbrella group of over 60 Islamic organizations in the greater Chicagoland area, has shared similar concerns over the latest attack.
"Attacks like these are very troubling as they put innocent human lives in danger and disrupt peace and safety in the greater Chicagoland community," Aymen Abdel Halim, Communications Director of CIOGC, said in a statement sent to OnIslam.net.
"We plan to work closely with the Orland Park Prayer Center and local law enforcement to bring those involved in this heinous act to justice."
Last month, Islamic Foundation North in Waukegan, a CIOGC member organization, was one of over 20 houses of worship vandalized in the span of a week.
The culprit has since been apprehended and charged with the help of interfaith partners and Lake County law enforcement.
US Muslims, estimated at between seven to eight million, have been sensing hostility since 9/11 attacks.
In the last five years, there has been "anti-mosque activity" in more than half of the US states, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The US has enacted a federal law in 2000 that meant to prevent zoning laws from discriminating against religious institutions.
All across the US, mosques have been facing fierce opposition recently.
At least 18 mosque projects — from Mississippi to Wisconsin — have found foes who battle to stop them from seeing light citing different pretexts, including traffic concerns and fear of terrorism.
Source: OnIslam
