• CAIR-SFBA Celebrates 19 Years of Civil Rights Activism (Santa Clara Weekly)
  Last month, CAIR-SFBA had more to celebrate than just the organization's 19th anniversary at its annual dinner and fundraiser at the Santa Clara Marriott. . ."It's fundamental to the democracy that we all aspire to expand the horizon of freedom," said Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews in his remarks for the evening. 
• CAIR-Ohio: Threats to Muslim Rights Endanger Bill of Rights
  Institutionalized profiling of Muslims is undermining American democracy, a leader of Cleveland's Islamic community said at Bluffton University Nov. 5.
  • Video: CAIR-Ohio Defends Right to Pray at Work
• CAIR-MN: Religious Groups to Hold 'Tolerance and Fear of Islam' Event
• CAIR Rep Participates in Service for Those Who Died Homeless, Alone in San Diego
• Exclusive: The Crusader Sub-Culture in the US Military (Islamophobia Today)
  Islamophobia Today has uncovered facts indicating that the pervasive "Crusader" sub-culture within the ranks of Islamophobes isn't limited to internet forums and blogs but also exists within the US Military.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR to Seek DOJ Action for Attack on Va. Muslim Taxi Driver
Va. prosecutor drops charges against alleged attacker, smears victim

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/14/13) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it will ask the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue charges against a Virginia man for an alleged bias-motivated assault earlier this year on a Muslim taxi driver.

CAIR is making that request following a decision by a Virginia prosecutor to drop charges against Ed Dahlberg, the passenger who allegedly assaulted Army reservist and Iraq veteran Mohamed A. Salim.

SEE: Charges Dropped in Alleged Muslim Cabbie Assault (AP)
Video: Taxi Driver Claims He Was Attacked Because He is Muslim

"It is outrageous that the prosecutor, instead of charging the perpetrator of a bias-motivated assault, chose to ignore clear evidence of a hate motive and to smear the victim," said CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, who is also Salim's attorney. "We ask the Department of Justice to take immediate action to demonstrate that hate attacks on American Muslims will not be tolerated or ignored."

Abbas said the prosecutor's actions could discourage future hate crime victims from coming forward.

In a cell-phone video taken by Salim, Dahlberg is heard asking the victim if he is Muslim and claiming that most Muslims are terrorists.

According to a Washington Post report on the incident:

"He says the Koran directs Muslims to kill nonbelievers and then repeatedly and loudly demands that Salim denounce the Sept. 11, 2001, attackers. When Salim asks if the passenger is threatening him, the passenger uses an obscene phrase to respond in the affirmative.

"If you're a Muslim, you're a [expletive] jihadist," the passenger says. "You are just as bad as the rest of them."

The video ends with a blur of motion and audio of Salim asking, "Why are you punching me? Sir, why are you punching me?"

The passenger replies: "You're a [expletive] Muslim."

CAIR: Muslim Cabdriver Alleges Assault by Passenger (Washington Post)
Video: Exclusive Cellphone Video of Alleged Cab Assault

Medical records show that Salim was treated for a fractured jaw and a head injury.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6410, 720-251-0425, E-mail: gabbas@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

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