MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LINKED REP. KEITH ELLISON FALSELY CLAIMS 35 MOSQUES ATTACKED
UNDER TRUMP
BY ROBERT SPENCER
SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/06/muslim-brotherhood-linked-rep-keith-ellison-falsely-claims-35-mosques-attacked-under-trump;
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Many of these “hate crimes” were just crimes: “The ACLU listed several burglaries
in Alabama that targeted mosque donation boxes. But according to a
police statement, authorities found ‘no evidence that these crimes are
hate crime related.’ Another example
involves a 16-year-old boy who set fire to a mosque, but authorities do
not believe the arson was a hate crime. The ACLU also lists the murder
of a young Muslim woman outside a mosque that occurred Sunday. Police
currently believe
the crime was a ‘road rage incident’ and not a hate crime….Ellison
mischaracterizes some of the incidents CAIR reported by calling them
‘attacks,’ exaggerating instances like hate mail by including them in the 35-number from his tweet.”This is all familiar. For years, Islamic advocacy groups such as the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have wildly exaggerated the incidence of anti-Muslim hate crime, often misrepresenting crimes committed by Muslims themselves as anti-Muslim hate crimes, in order to portray Muslims in the U.S. as victims of widespread persecution. In reality, FBI statistics show that Jews are twice as likely to be victims of hate crimes as Muslims.
The objective is clearly to deflect counter-terror efforts, claiming that Muslims are more victimized than victimizer, and that counter-terror efforts are part of that victimization.
Ellison has multiple links to the Muslim Brotherhood, so this is no surprise coming from him.
“FACT CHECK: Have There Been 35 Mosque Attacks Under Trump?,” by David Sivak, Daily Caller, June 21, 2017:
Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison tweeted Sunday that there have been 35 “mosque attacks” in the Trump era.
Verdict: Unsubstantiated
Ellison exaggerates an outdated and imprecise statistic. However, there have been a number of hate crime incidents directed at mosques in recent months. It remains to be seen whether these incidents are part of a growing trend.
Fact Check:
In his tweet, Ellison links to a Buzzfeed article that claims there have been around 35 “incidents of threats, vandalism and arson at U.S. mosques since January.” The figure is roughly based on an outdated statistic mentioned in a March press release from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
To establish a more current estimate, The Daily Caller News Foundation analyzed an ongoing list of incidents compiled by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The analysis found alleged incidents at about 60 mosques across the country to date. Many of the incidents noted by CAIR are included in the ACLU listing.
The ACLU’s list relies on local news reports, so the number of incidents could be higher if news outlets did not cover an incident or if the ACLU could not find all instances reported by local media.
The number of “anti-mosque incidents” the ACLU compiled may also be overstated because not all incidents were investigated by police as hate crimes. In addition, the list includes more subjective “incidents” like zoning disputes over the construction of new mosques.
The ACLU listed several burglaries in Alabama that targeted mosque donation boxes. But according to a police statement, authorities found “no evidence that these crimes are hate crime related.”
Another example involves a 16-year-old boy who set fire to a mosque, but authorities do not believe the arson was a hate crime.
The ACLU also lists the murder of a young Muslim woman outside a mosque that occurred Sunday. Police currently believe the crime was a “road rage incident” and not a hate crime.
Police reports and investigations are not infallible, but “anti-mosque” statistics issued by groups like the ACLU should be taken with a grain of salt. According to the FBI, “only when a law enforcement investigation reveals sufficient evidence to lead a reasonable and prudent person to conclude that the offender’s actions were motivated, in whole or in part, by his or her bias, should an agency report an incident as a hate crime.”
Ellison mischaracterizes some of the incidents CAIR reported by calling them “attacks,” exaggerating instances like hate mail by including them in the 35-number from his tweet….
Both Ellison’s tweet and the Buzzfeed article frame recent mosque incidents in the context of the Trump era. The article looks at incidents since January, the month President Donald Trump was inaugurated. However, evidence of a link between Trump’s presidency and attacks on mosques is unsubstantiated….
