—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—
 
Media contact: Jillian Nannery, The TASC Group
646-723-4344; Jill@thetascgroup.com
 

Recent Crimes Against Shaima Alawadi and Trayvon Martin Illustrate Wanton Violence Against Minorities

 
New York, NY – March 29, 2012: Islamic Circle of North America is asking Americans to respond to the rhetoric of hate in American culture.

A study published in early March indicates that hate groups in the U.S. are on the rise and the fight against intolerance is far from over, as the crimes against Trayvon Martin and Shaima Alawadi reveal. Around the nation, citizens are forming “hoodies and hijabs” rallies, highlighting the pervasive stereotypes that seem to have motivated both crimes. ICNA believes no American should live in fear from his or her fellow American and the crimes against Trayvon and Shaima should not be tolerated in this country.
Citizens are demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, who was murdered while wearing a hoodie, an article of clothing that made him seem suspicious to his attacker. The murder of Shaima Alawadi, a Muslim American mother of five, has not yet generated such widespread outrage. Shaima Alawadi was beaten to death in her home with a note left on her body reading, “Go back to your country, you terrorist.” Ms. Alawadi may have been targeted because she regularly observed Hijab, the wearing of traditional headscarves.
“The brutal murders of Trayvon Martin and Shaima Alawadi are a wake-up call for all of us,” said Naeem Baig, Vice President of ICNA Public Affairs. “No American should live in fear from his or her fellow American.”
According to a report released on March 8th by the Southern Poverty Law Center, hate groups are on the rise. The report states anti-Muslim hate groups tripled in 2011. This provides a broader context to these two events and illustrates that the culture of hate needs to be addressed.
Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) seeks to change the common rhetoric about Muslim Americans and is in the middle of a national education campaign to promote religious freedom. ICNA’s campaign, Defending Religious Freedom, Understanding Shariah, includes a 25 city education tour to introduce the Islamic faith to the American public. ICNA is also promoting awareness through a public service announcement campaign, billboards across the country, college campus seminars, radio ads and a national hotline dedicated to addressing questions about Shariah and the Islamic faith.
To interview ICNA representatives, contact Jillian Nannery at The TASC Group. Phone: 646-723-4344; Email: Jill@thetascgroup.com
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7 Responses

  1. aoozu billah, I don’t want to sound bad but in the case of sister Shaima Alawadi it is clear the hate but in the case of Trayvon Martin is not clear what happen there, so I recommend my brothers and sisters not to take a firm position in the case of Trayvon,go arround assuming things without knowledge can lead to poor judgment and falsehood and that’s no good in Islam,salaam Alaikum

  2. Brother Hector I agree with you, ICNA should hold on till the truth comes out about the Trayvon Martin case, may Allah grant sister Shaima Alawadi Jannah. Ameen

  3. All of the evidence in the case hasn’t been sorted out yet, I too would hold off regarding Trayvon…..But Sis. Shaima….Adtham Allahu Ajrakum……That is a clear case of Racial Hate Crime

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Islamic Circle of North America
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