Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 12 March 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

CAIR’s Civil Rights Report Shows Islamophobia Complaints at All-Time High, Viewpoint Discrimination Key Factor 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has reported a record high of 8,658 complaints related to anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents in the United States for 2024, marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year. This surge is largely attributed to heightened Islamophobia following the Israel-Gaza conflict and subsequent campus protests.  

The complaints were categorized as follows: 

• Employment Discrimination: 15.4% 
• Immigration and Asylum Issues: 14.8% 
• Educational Discrimination: 9.8% 
• Hate Crimes: 7.5% 

The report also highlights significant incidents, including police and university crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests, which led to canceled classes, administrative resignations, and student arrests.  

Analyst Comments: The report was released as the Trump Administration is warning colleges over a potential loss of funding in relation to protest activity at 60 college campuses that has been deemed antisemitic. The Department of Education has  under investigation for alleged violations “relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination,” warning institutions of possible consequences if they don’t take adequate steps to protect Jewish students. Additionally, the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card-holding Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist is likely to continue fueling protest and counter-protest activities.  

FBI Hate Crime Statistics 

 Australian police arrest 14 members of crime ring linked to antisemitic attacks 

Australian police have arrested 14 members of an organized crime ring connected to a series of antisemitic attacks. The suspects face 65 charges, including criminal group involvement, arson, and property destruction. While the police initially linked these crimes to antisemitism, they later clarified that the group’s actions were more opportunistic, exploiting the Jewish community’s vulnerability rather than stemming from ideological motivations. However, the police acknowledged a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia, particularly after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. This surge has led to over 2,000 anti-Jewish incidents in the past year, prompting the Australian government to introduce stricter hate crime laws.  

Analyst Comments: The arrest of 14 individuals in Australia connected to antisemitic attacks marks a significant step in addressing faith-based violence and hate crimes. This incident brings to light the concerning overlap between organized crime and religious intolerance. Although the police have downplayed the ideological motives behind the crime ring, it is evident that Jewish communities remain highly vulnerable to such attacks, particularly during times of heightened geopolitical tensions.  

After months of attacks directed at the Jewish community, Australia‘s parliament enacted stringent laws to address hate crimes, introducing mandatory minimum sentences for terrorism offenses and the display of hate symbols. 

As always, FB-ISAO’s website has valuable resources at Resource Library – FB-ISAO  

Top House cyber lawmaker to press DHS on key infrastructure group’s shutdown 

U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a leading cybersecurity lawmaker, has expressed concerns over the recent shutdown of the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CIPAC, which facilitated information sharing between government agencies and critical infrastructure owners regarding cyber and physical threats, was disbanded under DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s directive. Garbarino, who advocates for stronger cybersecurity measures, plans to question DHS about the decision, emphasizing the council’s vital role in preparing for threats, including natural disasters and cyberattacks. Industry leaders also voiced their concerns, noting that CIPAC was crucial for foresting collaboration between the private sector and government in safeguarding infrastructure.  

Analyst Comments: DHS’s decision to disband the CIPAC raises serious concerns for many in the Critical Infrastructure community. As pointed out by Rep. Andrew Garbarino and industry experts, CIPAC was vital in fostering collaboration between the government and private sector organizations responsible for critical infrastructure. The council played a key role in ensuring the timely exchange of information on both cyber and physical threats. The situation is certainly one to be monitored, as the administration has shown a pattern of enacting and quickly reversing decisions in these early days.