The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the sentencing of a Texas man to 26 months in prison after he allegedly threatened employees of a Sikh non-profit in New Jersey.

Dallas resident Bhushan Athale, 49, was found guilty of making violent interstate threats against individuals based on their religion, officials said. In September 2022, he called the main number of an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikhs and left numerous messages threatening to kill employees of the organization. Athale called again in March 2024 and again expressed hatred for Sikhs and Muslims.

SEE: Dallas, Texas: Man sentenced for hate crime due, DOJ says | wfaa.com

“We welcome the sentencing of this individual and thank law enforcement authorities for taking action before his violent threats turned to action,” said CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi. “Anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim bigotry have inspired acts of violence before and must be taken seriously by law enforcement authorities.”

She said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.

END

CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com