Connecticut mosques report harassing Islamophobic phone calls
A civil rights group says Islamic centers in Vernon and Bridgeport received calls with anti-Muslim slurs, prompting police investigation
VERNON, United States (MNTV) — Islamic centers in Vernon and Bridgeport, Connecticut, have received repeated phone calls containing anti-Muslim slurs and derogatory language, according to a civil rights advocacy group.
The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said the Islamic Center of Vernon first received a voicemail with offensive Islamophobic content, after which the calls continued and extended to the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center, pointing to a broader pattern.
The group said the caller also reached the imam at one of the centers directly with derogatory remarks about Islam.
Vernon police confirmed they opened an investigation after the initial report, saying they were treating it as a community-safety matter and working to determine the calls’ origin.
The Bridgeport center is preparing to file a formal complaint, extending the matter across jurisdictions.
Community leaders condemned the calls, saying places of worship should be free from intimidation and calling for accountability under hate-crime and harassment laws where applicable.
Authorities have not named any suspects or said whether the incidents are being treated as hate crimes, and the investigation is ongoing.