(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/11/25) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Florida chapter (CAIR-FL) today welcomed the sentencing of a California man who threatened a mass shooting in 2023 at a Florida mosque
Alan Winston Filion, 18, of Lancaster, California, admitted in federal court to making the threat against Masjid Al Hayy Mosque in Florda’s Seminole County. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
Filion reportedly contacted law enforcement authorities said he was going to carry out a mass shooting in the name of Satan, had an AR-15 assault weapon and pipe bombs and he played a recording of gunfire in the background.
SEE: Teen gets 4 years in prison for Sanford mosque threat and nationwide swatting spree
CAIR’s Florida chapter previously called for hate crime charges in the case.
In a statement, CAIR-FL Communications Director Wilfredo Amr Ruiz said:
“We welcome the sentencing in this case, thank law enforcement authorities for bringing this individual to justice and urge community leaders to once again review and update security procedures. Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in bias incidents targeting minority communities nationwide, which must be addressed by elected officials and state and local leaders.”
Last month, CAIR encouraged mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide to review their security procedures after law enforcement arrested a Tennessee man for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at a Nashville mosque.
CAIR urges community and mosque leaders to use advice offered in its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep those facilities safe. Much of the advice in the booklet is applicable to houses of worship of all faiths.
In December, CAIR’s Washington state chapter called on law enforcement to investigate vandalism at the Islamic Center of Federal Way in Kent, Washington, as a possible hate crime.
Mosques have been targeted in other states nationwide..
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
About CAIR-Florida:
CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, foster dialogue, safeguard civil liberties for all, empower American Muslims, and form coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, [email protected], (305) 502-6749; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]
