Chicago-Area Mosques Receive Threats In Wake Of Orlando Shooting

By aaroncynic in News on Jun 14, 2016 9:47PM

Chicago area mosques have received threats in the wake of the horrific mass-shooting in Orlando which killed 49 people, the shooter, and injured more than 50 others.

On Monday, the Council of Islamic Organizations (CAIR) of Chicago said the shooting has lead to at least two threats to suburban Islamic centers in Naperville and Wheaton. According to the Sun-Times, Mohammed Kaiseruddin, Chairman of CAIR-Chicago, the threats, sent via email, were forwarded to the FBI.

“It’s very unfortunate that some of our mosques have already received hate messages and even threats," Kaiseruddin told NBC5. "The Muslim community should not also be targeted against any hateful thing carried out by one individual over there.”

Early Sunday morning, Omar Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In the wake of the massacre, the conservative right has been quick to attempt to blame Mateen’s identity as a Muslim for his motivations, even though it’s more than obvious that bigotry and hatred towards people in the LGBT community was the prime motivator.

Despite the attempts of various pundits and politicians to drive a wedge between the LGBT and Muslim communities, others have been trying to build bridges. In response, the Gay Liberation Network made a call for unity, saying:

“We have in our LGBT community many Muslims and immigrants who catch it from both sides-racist Islamophobes on one side, anti-LGBT bigots on the other. We especially need to stand with them, and stand against scapegoating, period.”

CAIR, who sent their condolences to the LGBT community, also made a call for unity. "We recognize that these misguided and evil forces represent a common threat to vulnerable minority communities," the organization said in a statement. "CAIR-Chicago stands in solidarity with the LGBT community."

Both Islamic centers that also received threats expressed solidarity with the victims and condemned the shootings: "We reiterate our position that all killings of innocent men, women, and children are unacceptable," wrote the Wheaton Islamic Center in a statement. "We extend our sympathies to the families of the victims and ask the Most Compassionate God to grant full recovery to the injured and bless them with patience and strength."

The Islamic Center of Naperville urged community members to donate blood.