CAIR Welcomes Arrest of Suspect in Murders of 4 New Mexico Muslims, Strongly Condemns Reported Anti-Shia Motivation       

(WASHINGTON D.C., 8/9/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a suspect in the shooting deaths of four New Mexico Muslim men and strongly condemned the anti-Shia hatred that may have motivated the killings.

Four different Muslim men have been shot and killed in Albuquerque over the past nine months. CAIR offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for the murders and called on the Biden administration to take a direct role in responding to the shooting spree.

In a statement responding to the arrest of a suspect in the case, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: 

“We welcome the arrest of a suspect in this horrific shooting spree and we commend law enforcement for their efforts at the local, state and federal levels. We hope the news that this violence has been brought to an end will provide the New Mexico Muslim community some sense of relief and security. 

“Although we are waiting to learn more about these crimes, we are disturbed by early indications that the alleged killer may have been targeting particular members of the Shia community. If this is true, it is completely unacceptable, and we encourage law enforcement to file any appropriate hate crime charges against the suspect.”

“Acts of hateful, sectarian violence against followers of the Shia tradition and any other group have no place in our communities, our country or anywhere else. American Muslims are and must be united against all forms of hateful bigotry, including anti-Shia bias.”

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.