Advocacy Group Alleges Anti-Muslim Campaign After Newton Eid Celebration

NEWTON, MA — The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on elected officials and residents to reject what it describes as an anti-Muslim campaign that emerged before and after an Eid al-Adha celebration held at Newton's War Memorial Auditorium last month.

The civil rights organization issued a statement this week expressing support for the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland and members of Newton's Muslim community, saying they have been targeted by online criticism following the May 30 event.

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The celebration, believed to be Newton's first public Eid al-Adha festival, drew about 300 attendees after rainy weather forced organizers to move the event from outdoors into the War Memorial Auditorium at City Hall. The free event featured food, music, cultural activities, and family programming and was organized by local Muslim residents.

Before the event, a group sent a letter to Mayor Marc Laredo criticizing the city's decision to allow the celebration at the War Memorial Auditorium. The letter questioned the city's process for approving organizations that use municipal facilities and raised concerns about some organizations connected to the event, including the Islamic Center of Boston in Wayland.

The letter reportedly referenced organizations that were not listed as event sponsors and discussed Muslim organizations and events outside Newton, according to a report from The Newton Beacon.

CAIR-MA said the criticism evolved into a broader anti-Muslim campaign that has continued online since the celebration.

"We refuse to accept the premise that Muslims must continually prove their innocence and worthiness to celebrate and gather, in ways never demanded of other faith communities," CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud said in a statement.

Amatul-Wadud called on elected officials, residents, and interfaith organizations to reject anti-Muslim discrimination and rhetoric targeting Muslims.

The organization also said the local incidents reflect a broader increase in anti-Muslim bias, citing its own data indicating a 65 percent increase in hate-related incidents affecting local Muslims. That figure was not independently verified.

Eid al-Adha is one of Islam's two major holidays and commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. The holiday coincides with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj.

Newton rents the War Memorial Auditorium to a variety of community organizations and religious groups for public events. Similar cultural celebrations, including Holi festivities, have also been held there.

Patch has reached out to Laredo and the city for comment.

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