CAIR Distributes New Mosque Safety Guidelines
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the US, said it is distributing new safety and security guidelines to mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide.
CAIR said the first phase of the distribution will focus on mosques in the Washington, D.C., area.
The new CAIR publication, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," was produced in response to recent bias attacks, including a series of incidents last year targeting American Muslim institutions.
CAIR's guidelines, which include safety recommendations drafted by a leading security consultant, 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.
Along with its distribution to mosques and Muslim institutions, the publication may be ordered free of charge online by Muslim community leaders.
The mosque safety booklet includes an introduction from CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad and sections outlining initial security steps to take and how to assess an institution's vulnerability to attack.
Other sections include a checklist for safety preparation and planning, details on security equipment, how to deal with an armed intruder, procedures for handling bomb threats or suspicious packages, and links to security resources available from private and government sources.
"Muslim community leaders, like leaders of other faith communities, have a duty to do whatever they can to ensure public safety and security," said CAIR's Awad. "These important safety guidelines should be studied and implemented by everyone in a community leadership position."
Last year, CAIR issued "Thirteen Days in Ramadan," a report on a spike in anti-mosque incidents that occurred in late August of 2012.
Source: PRNewswire
The new CAIR publication, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety," was produced in response to recent bias attacks, including a series of incidents last year targeting American Muslim institutions.
CAIR's guidelines, which include safety recommendations drafted by a leading security consultant, 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.
Along with its distribution to mosques and Muslim institutions, the publication may be ordered free of charge online by Muslim community leaders.
The mosque safety booklet includes an introduction from CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad and sections outlining initial security steps to take and how to assess an institution's vulnerability to attack.
Other sections include a checklist for safety preparation and planning, details on security equipment, how to deal with an armed intruder, procedures for handling bomb threats or suspicious packages, and links to security resources available from private and government sources.
"Muslim community leaders, like leaders of other faith communities, have a duty to do whatever they can to ensure public safety and security," said CAIR's Awad. "These important safety guidelines should be studied and implemented by everyone in a community leadership position."
Last year, CAIR issued "Thirteen Days in Ramadan," a report on a spike in anti-mosque incidents that occurred in late August of 2012.
Source: PRNewswire
