Paul Naiman, 78, of St. Clair Shores, has been arrested for targeting a Muslim civil rights organization.
The Michigan chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, welcomed the arrest on Thursday (Feb. 6) of the 78-year-old man for allegedly targeting CAIR-MI’s office and Executive Director Dawud Walid with harassing and threatening emails.
Naiman faces three counts of ethnic intimidation, a felony punishable by prison time and fines under Michigan law.
The charges stem from threats made by Naiman via email aimed at CAIR-MI and Walid, who have long been dedicated to promoting the civil rights of Muslims throughout Michigan.
In his various emails to CAIR-MI, Naiman repeatedly called for the “extermination” of all Muslims and, in at least one email, addressed his hateful and threatening rhetoric directly to Walid.
Walid has been a prominent voice for justice and equality, often making him a target for hateful rhetoric.
This is the second time since 2023 that CAIR-MI’s offices and staff have been the target of harassment and death threats.
In March of 2024, a man from Florida was charged with federal crimes for making telephonic death threats to CAIR-MI, a charge he later pled guilty to.
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
Last 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 year’s final three months.
