SACRAMENTO, CA — The Sacramento Valley chapter of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) this week said an April 23 fire
at a Stockton, Calif., mosque has been ruled arson. CAIR-SV is asking that a
possible bias motive for the fire be investigated.

Law enforcement authorities are offering a $10,000 reward in
the case and have released surveillance images from the time of the fire at
Masjid Al Emaan.

“We thank law enforcement authorities for their efforts
in this case and ask that they investigate a possible bias motive for this act
of arson,” said CAIR-SV Executive Director Basim Elkarra.

In March, Elkarra took part in a news conference with local
and federal law enforcement authorities to announce an arrest in the case of a
Madera, Calif., mosque that was vandalized last August with a brick and hate
signs.

In the past year, arsonists have also targeted mosques or
mosque construction sites in Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Michigan. In May of
last year, a bomb exploded at a Florida mosque.

A number of other hate incidents targeting American Muslims,
those perceived to be Muslim and Muslim institutions have occurred in the days
since the death of Osama bin laden.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy
organization is urging members of the Muslim community to review security
procedures using advice contained in its “Muslim Community Safety
Kit.”