A mosque near the home of the New Orleans terror attack suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, has raised eyebrows after instructing its worshippers to refrain from commenting on the incident to both law enforcement and media.
The Houston Masjid Bilal issued a statement condemning the tragic New Year’s Day attack, which has been classified by the FBI as an act of terrorism. The statement, according to Newsweek, read: “If approached by the FBI and a response is necessary, please refer to CAIR [Council on American-Islamic Relations] and ISGH [Islamic Society of Greater Houston].” The mosque emphasized, “If anyone is contacted by the media, it is very important that you do not respond.”
While the post could not be found on the mosque’s official social media pages, similar posts have been circulating online, drawing attention to the mosque’s instruction to limit direct communication with authorities and media.
The FBI identified Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas, as the suspect behind the attack. According to the FBI’s release, investigators found an ISIS flag, weapons, and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device (IED) in the vehicle used in the assault. The attack killed at least 14 people and injured many others. The FBI is actively investigating the incident as terrorism.
CAIR, a prominent Muslim advocacy group, condemned the attack as “horrific, senseless, and infuriating,” denouncing the actions of extremist groups like ISIS. Spokesperson Ibrahim Hooper emphasized that such acts of violence do not represent the broader Muslim community, which overwhelmingly rejects extremist ideologies.
Despite CAIR’s clear stance on the attack, the mosque’s directive has sparked concern about the transparency of its communication regarding the incident. Hooper directed inquiries to CAIR’s official statement, distancing the organization from the mosque’s actions.
Jabbar, an Army veteran, was reportedly “inspired by ISIS,” according to President Joe Biden, who also vowed full support for the ongoing investigation into the attack. President-elect Donald Trump echoed this sentiment, expressing his administration’s commitment to supporting the city of New Orleans as it recovers from this act of violence.
As the investigation into the New Orleans terror attack continues, the FBI’s work, coupled with the community’s response, remains a critical point of focus. The mosque’s involvement in guiding its members during this time raises questions about local religious organizations’ roles in responding to extremism and violence.
