Michigan Man Charged with Ethnic Intimidation Over Threats to Muslims

IQNA – A 78-year-old Michigan man has been charged with ethnic intimidation following threatening a U.S. Muslim advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), according to statements from the group and local authorities on Thursday. 

Paul Naiman faces three counts of ethnic intimidation, as confirmed by the Canton Police Department, which cited charges brought by prosecutors.

If convicted, Naiman could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison for each charge, Reuters reported on Friday.

CAIR stated that the charges are linked to alleged threats Naiman made via email targeting the organization’s Michigan chapter. In the emails, he reportedly called for the “extermination” of all Muslims. Additionally, Dawud Walid, the executive director of CAIR’s Michigan branch, reportedly received harassing and threatening messages from the suspect. 

The incident comes amid growing concerns from human rights advocates, including CAIR, about a surge in hate crimes targeting American Muslims in the wake of Israeli war on Gaza since October 2023.

Recent incidents allegedly involving hate crimes include the tragic stabbing death of a 6-year-old Muslim boy in Illinois and an attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Muslim girl in Texas.

Source: Agencies