CAIR Documents 183% Increase in Mosque Incidents Compared to Same Time Period Last Year

July 28, 2026
By CAIR Los Angeles

CAIR urges community leaders to pre-register to receive the soon to be released updated Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety Guide

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, today said that it has documented 17 incidents targeting Islamic places of worship in May, June, and July to date, including multiple in California. Its Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) noted two additional incidents that were reported in the region during the three-month period.

The incidents represent 51% of the previous year’s total, and a 183% increase over the same three-month period last year, during which CAIR documented six such incidents. The incidents include a terroristic attack on a mosque, threats of violence, arson, acts of intimidation, and opposition to Islamic places of worship on the basis of religion.

[NOTE: CAIR and NAIT expect to release the updated guide in late August, Muslim community leaders who pre-register will receive a pdf of the document on release day. Muslim Community Leaders: Register here to Receive NAIT and CAIR’s Updated Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.]

CAIR researchers often examine the three months following a significant incident to determine whether a surge has occurred. The horrific attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, which saw Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad sacrifice their lives to defend children from anti-Muslim white supremacist extremists who attacked the facility, occurred on May 18.

CAIR’s list includes two incidents involving mosques in Los Gatos and San Diego, California.

In addition, CAIR-LA documented two incidents reported to its office during the May to July period involving harassment and threats of violence targeting mosques in San Diego.

In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:

“Islamophobia still remains an acceptable form of hate in the U.S., and American houses of worship are too often seen as targets for cheap political smears and violence. It is a duty on community leaders to ensure our sanctuaries remain places for prayer, reflection, and community. Vigilance is a piece of achieving this outcome.”

[Note on the typing of incidents in the Google Sheet:

Damage-Destruction-Vandalism (DDV): Incidents involving property damage or physical injury to people.
Harassment: Uninvited or unwelcome demonstrations or acts that involve Islamophobic slurs. This category includes verbal harassment and/or assault, such as being called a “terrorist.”
Intimidation: An escalation of harassment to threats of violence, for example, threatening to kill Muslims; or speech that appears intended to make a person fearful for their safety, or other acts not involving property damage that are apparently intended to cause fear in those targeted by the act. This category includes armed anti-Islam demonstrations, brandishing weapons, placing severed pigs’ heads on mosque property, and plans to conduct an attack that were not operationalized.
Zoning: Islamophobic issues raised during zoning proceedings. An incident is included in the zoning category only if bias is clearly identified in zoning proceedings. Places of worship of many faiths routinely face opposition from neighbors due to traffic or land use concerns.]

SEE: CAIR 2026 Civil Rights Report – 2025 mosque incidents listing beings on page 111

In 2025, CAIR identified 33 incidents explicitly targeting Islamic institutions, including mosques, Islamic community centers, or other spaces self-identified as a Muslim place of worship.

To be included, in this data set all reports must be sourced from publicly available information, including traditional media or social media posts.

CAIR staff are often aware of additional incidents of mosque harassment that never become public. In many of these cases, mosque leadership is reluctant to speak out due to concerns about further intimidation or retaliation. As a result, CAIR frequently provides confidential consultation, strategic guidance, and behind-the-scenes advocacy to help communities navigate these situations while respecting their wishes.

In May 2026, CAIR hosted a webinar, titled “Protecting Your Mosques: What Every Mosque Needs to Know and Do,” that featured experts in mosque safety, community security, crisis preparedness, and threat prevention. Houses of worship and other nonprofit organizations can request access to the full video here.

To report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 2) or click here to file a report.

CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims. 

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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com