General (05)
Susana Barrios
From: Aliya Yousufi <ayousufi@cair.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 5:07 PM
To: City Clerk <cityclerk@anaheim.net>
Subject: \[EXTERNAL\] City Response Requested to Fatal San Diego Mosque Shooting
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Dear City Clerk,
I am writing to ask that you please share this message with your Mayor and City Council members at your
earliest convenience.
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Dear Mayor and Honorable Members of the City Council,
I am reaching out on behalf of the Greater Los Angeles office of the Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR-LA) in the wake of yesterday's devastating attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego
(ICSD), the largest mosque in San Diego County, which claimed the lives of three men: security guard
Amin Abdullah, who heroically gave his life shielding 200 children from harm, and two other beloved
members of the mosque community, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad, who were killed as they bravely
attempted to draw the shooters away from others. The attack is currently categorized as a hate crime.
The two suspected teenage gunmen were found deceased shortly after.
The news of this event spread quickly and Muslim communities across California are mourning alongside
ICSD after this devastating act of violence. Incidents like this leave deep emotional wounds that extend
far beyond one congregation and are felt by the approximately one million Muslims who call California
home.
As we continue to see the rampant anti-Muslim rhetoric in government and in our communities, we must
acknowledge that hate does not exist in a vacuum, and this attack is the ugliest proof of that. The attack
came just days before Eid al-Adha, one of the most sacred times of the Islamic calendar, and it struck
not only a place of prayer, but a school where children gather to learn.
In light of this, I respectfully request two things:
1. A formal solidarity statement — We ask that your city issue an official statement condemning
this act of Islamophobic violence and expressing your community's unwavering support for your
Muslim neighbors, residents, and community members. Your words carry real weight. When
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elected officials speak clearly and publicly in defense of a targeted community, it matters deeply
to those who are hurting and afraid.
2. A public message on your city's official social media platforms — We ask that you post a
supportive message on your city's public-facing social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram,
X/Twitter, or whichever platforms your city uses) so that Muslim community members can see it
directly. Visibility is important. A message that lives only in official archives does not reach the
people who need to feel it most.
Please let me know if your city takes either of these steps as we would very much like to share and
amplify any public statements you make in support of our Muslim neighbors.
The three men who lost their lives on May 18, 2026 were not strangers. They were fathers, neighbors, and
community members. Our prayers are with the families of those who were killed, the individuals who
were injured, the children and worshippers who experienced this terrifying attack firsthand, and every
member of the community now carrying unimaginable grief and trauma.
Your words may not undo the damage but at least they can make sure our Muslim community knows that
they do not have to face this alone because their leaders stand with them.
Sincerely,
Aliya Yousufi, J.D. | Senior Policy & Advocacy Manager
Council on American-Islamic Relations, California
Greater Los Angeles Area Office
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Ste. F | Anaheim, CA 92801
www.cairla.org | 714.776.1847
Council on American-Islamic Relations Greater-Los Angeles Area Office
2180 W. Crescent Avenue
Suite F
Anaheim, CA 92801
United States
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