Council on American-Islamic Relations

Best Practices for Mosque

and Community Safety
 Best Practices for
Mosque &
Community Safety
Dear imam, activist, community leader, brother or sister:

As-salaamu alaykum. Peace be to you.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has developed the “Best Practices
for Mosque and Community Safety” to better equip you and your community with the
immediate steps necessary to safeguard your mosque or Islamic institution against
bias-motivated violence or vandalism.
Cover images from burned mosque in Joplin., Mo.
In pursuing better security, it is important to remember that these steps are only a starting
point and that you should plan for the long-term by seeking the expertise of security
professionals in the public or private sector.

The number of bias-motivated incidents targeting mosques and other Islamic institutions
has grown in parallel with the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment promoted by a well-coordinated
and well-financed “Islamophobia machine.”

Incidents targeting American Muslim institutions have included arson and bomb attacks,
shootings, hate vandalism, and threats of violence.

The deadly shooting spree at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin is widely believed to have occurred
because the shooter confused Sikhs with Muslims.

This booklet is intended to give an overview of best practices in securing mosques and
other Islamic institutions from crimes of various kinds, including hate crimes. It is by
necessity a very general document. Specific security recommendations can only be made
by a professional after a personal physical inspection and risk assessment of each facility.

Recommendations for best practices contained in this report recognize that the particular
security challenges for mosques differ tremendously by the site of each facility, its particular
location, the surrounding area and its geography, the political and social environment of the
www.cair.com community in which it is located, the size of the building, the number of members of each
mosque, and the history of past incidents and relations with the larger community -- as well
as other possible considerations.

CAIR would like to thank Gerard Busnuk It must be understood that any security recommendations are done with a view to reducing
of Roland Park Security Consulting for the probability of hate crime. Even if all possible recommendations are implemented, there
lending his expertise and experience in are no guarantees that such crimes will not occur.
the drafting of this guide.

Nihad Awad
CAIR National Executive Director
How to use this resource kit:
* Read this booklet carefully.
* Circulate it to other
community leaders and
your friends and family.
* Copy relevant portions to post
in your local mosque, Islamic
center or organization.
For additional information, contact CAIR National at
202-488-8787, or via email at [email protected].
To contact the nearest CAIR chapter, click on the chapters
CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad and CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas
link at www.cair.com. at site of burned mosque in Joplin, Mo.

Some Initial Steps to Take:

Develop a Legal Contact List Meet with Local School Officials
Develop a list of attorneys who are willing to be consulted by to Discuss Student Safety
the Muslim community in response to backlash incidents. Ask Representatives of the Muslim community should meet with
Muslim attorneys to volunteer their services to community local school and school board officials to discuss safety plans
members during this time of crisis. for students and to sensitize the administrators to harassment
of Muslim students.
Develop Positive Relationships with
Law Enforcement Agencies Build an Emergency Contact List
Community leaders should, in cooperation with local civil Community leaders should develop emergency email, text
rights advocates and attorneys, immediately coordinate message and phone contact lists to be used in case of an
meetings between representatives of the Muslim community incident that threatens the community’s safety. Local imams,
and local and state law enforcement agencies. These Islamic center board members and Muslim activists should
meetings should focus on ways in which the community can be on the lists. A second list should be developed containing
help improve security and on how authorities can protect contact information for all local law enforcement agencies.
Muslims, Arab-Americans and other targeted minorities from
harassment and discrimination. Hold a Community Meeting to
Inform Others of Safety Guidelines
Meet with Elected Officials to Discuss Call for a meeting of the local Muslim community to discuss
Community Concerns the information outlined in this kit. The meeting should take
Delegations of Muslim representatives should schedule place at a local mosque or Islamic center and should be
meetings with local, state and national elected advertised using the emergency contact list.
representatives or their key staff to discuss community
concerns. To find out who represents your area on the Establish a Community Support Network
national level, go to: http://www.capwiz.com/cair/home/ Establish a network of community members who can offer
emotional and material support to those who may be the
Build Coalitions with Interfaith and Minority Groups victims of hate crimes or discrimination. Victims should not be
Meetings should be coordinated with representatives of local left alone to deal with the negative impact of such incidents.
interfaith and minority groups. These meetings should focus on
building lines of communication and support, and hearing from
these groups how they deal with discrimination and bigotry.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 1

 Broad Outline: To be effective, the board needs to tell the congregation what
they want them to do, what things to look for and how to report
A general framework in which to think about institutional security them. Larger mosques may wish to have a dedicated phone
falls within the following broad categories: number or person to call to report concerns.

• Be Aware

• Assess Your Vulnerability

• Prepare and Plan Assess Your Vulnerability

• Prevent Awareness begins to become concrete with a security plan for
the facility - even if it’s a small facility and the plan is only a
• Respond/Mitigate
page or two long. (For example, who locks up at night and sets
• Recover the alarm, etc.) What’s your plan? Do you have one? Does
anybody know about its existence or what it says?
This framework can be applied to all sorts of security issues,
from hate graffiti to burglary or to an active-shooter episode. It is important that management must first perform a vulnerability
risk assessment before beginning a security program or taking
Decision-makers must decide which recommendations are best a fresh look at an existing one. Ideally, this should be done by a
applied to their facility. They must also decide the order in which trained security professional so that it is performed in a thorough,
they will implement the process. structured, professional manner. It is recognized that most
mosques will not have the financial resources to do this.

However, some police departments will offer to do their version

Be Aware of a security check and make suggestions for your mosque. The
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also has specialists
The reality for the Muslim community today is that it shares
available to inspect facilities through their Protective Security
some of the problems faced by other minorities. The hostility
Advisor program. The ability of these organizations to promptly
directed toward American Muslims is similar in some ways to
respond and the quality of their inspections will likely vary, as will
that endured by the African-American community during the
flexibility and appropriateness of recommendations.
early stages of the civil rights movement and experienced by the
Jewish community at other times. Another analogous situation is If time and costs are considerations, management may elect to
that faced by abortion clinics. perform its own site vulnerability assessment. Should this be
the case, it is important that a security committee be appointed
Bigotry is a fact of life. One cannot wish or hope it out of
or one person be put in charge of the security for a particular
existence. But one can defend against it, and the first step in
institution. That person would coordinate the inspection of the
doing so is recognizing its existence and developing a security
premises and gather the data to present to the ultimate authority
mindset prepared to deal with it. The idea that “It can’t happen
and decision-makers at the mosque. Since the particular factors
here” is the death knell of a security program.
in each particular building can be so different, the vulnerability
Community safety is most easily obtained through vigilance, risk assessment must be flexible in order to address peculiar
while avoiding counterproductive paranoid scare tactics. One way risks at that site.
to increase security awareness at your mosque is to develop, as
Translated into practical, common sense terms for mosque
part of your security plan, a Security Awareness Program.
leaders, a risk assessment means asking several questions:
This program enlists all members of the mosque to become eyes
What security measures are in place now? Answering
and ears for the facility management team. Everyone is asked
this question requires a detailed examination of physical
to keep eyes and ears open to suspicious or unusual activities,
security hardware, procedures and the people connecting
persons, or items near the mosque. Two thousand alert members
them to each other. More on the inspection of current
will arguably have a better chance of detecting a threat than 20
measures will be discussed below.
security cameras because of the members’ familiarity with the
environment.

2 Council on American-Islamic Relations

 Prepare and Plan
Evaluate Your Current Security Plan:

Does your religious center even have a plan? Most places

don’t have a written security plan. It’s often verbal, based on
incremental decision-making over years.

What’s the plan? Does anybody even know about it? Ideally,
a security plan for a mosque or other institution should be
written, defining broad procedures that are sensible and doable.
What risks do we face in the current environment? There’s no point in having procedures that are impractical or
The overwhelming numbers of crimes facing mosques are found to be not working, poorly implemented or outdated.
vandalism of various kinds, particularly graffiti with hate-filled
messages. This is a problem for businesses and institutions of Who’s in charge? It is strongly recommended that there
all kinds. An additional concern, but less common, is burglary, be one person overall in charge in any security chain-of-
mostly for theft, but also for the opportunity to commit arson. command. It would be someone who, generally, will be in
The far more serious risks are those posed by the so-called charge of any security-related decisions or inspections. The
active shooter, as seen in the attack on the Sikh temple in Oak person in charge of security could be a full-time or part-time
Creek, Wisc., and the school in Newtown, Conn. Though these employee, or could be a volunteer; he/she might be the chair
incidents of active shooter get a lot of press, they are, fortunately, of a security committee of several persons; or this person
relatively rare in a country of more than 300 million people. could have other duties. For example, the facility manager
Despite its rarity, however, some thought must be given to the could be assigned this role, and in smaller facilities, the
prevention, response to and mitigation of such an incident. Imam might be the person. This person would be in charge of
developing the security plan - or reviewing a current plan.
What are your gaps? Where are you vulnerable? Are
you reasonably protected against burglary? Are there any Has an existing plan for security/safety been recently reviewed?
issues with your barriers to entry to your property, your
lighting and your alarms? For example, are your doors always Part of any review will be a listing of what security
locked except when in use? Is the alarm set every day when equipment is currently in place. Is it working? Is it adequate?
the last person leaves? Are lights around the property burned What are the gaps?
out? List the answers in writing. More specifics to think
Has your security plan been tested by real events? For
about will be discussed below. (A very simple way to see your
example, was there an emergency situation of some sort, and
vulnerabilities to burglary, for example, would be to pretend
nobody seemed to know what to do? Did an alarm go off and
that you’ve lost all keys to the mosque, but still want to get in.
nobody knew it was there? Did cameras not catch the car
How would you do it? Look at your building through the eyes
break-in on the lot? Did someone say “call the police” and
of a perpetrator.)
other persons thought they were joking? Often, real events
What is doable and reasonable given the resources will give the organization an opportunity to improve and
available to the mosque? The ability to harden defenses practice an existing plan.
for very small congregation with a small facility and
Real events, of whatever import, give the opportunity to
budget will be different from that of a large mosque with
practice security and review any lessons learned from the
hundreds of members and a number of staff members. This
handling of the event.
is why the security assessment for each facility, and its
recommendations for improvement, must be individualized There are three basic elements that interweave in a security
to that particular facility and its ability to prioritize its limited program: people, procedures and security-related
resources. There can be no cookie-cutter solutions. hardware/equipment. These three need to interact with each
other in order to have an effective program.
Often a review of what’s currently in place will make security
gaps apparent and will lead to a reordering of security priorities.
This is the place where a security plan can be very useful.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 3

 People
As mentioned above, a clear chain of command for decision-
making related to security is important. Ideally, one person
will be in overall charge. A primary purpose of the head of
security, in addition to managing the security, is to encourage a
security mindset in everyone. This person will draft and forward
security procedures to the ultimate decision-maker(s). It must
be recognized that those procedures will offer a framework, but
cannot cover every possible contingency. The plan is based on
the vulnerability risk assessment and has to be based on the
local situation.

This person should head a security committee, if there is one, or

help create one if there is not. A security committee of volunteers
would be helpful, since in most cases mosques are not going to
be able to afford paid staff for things that need to be done. Any
security plan should be written, presented to key stakeholders
and refined. A security committee must meet regularly, perhaps
weekly, until a plan has been developed and underway, or during
times of higher alert or crisis. The security director’s job, in
conjunction with the board and/or the security committee, is to
coordinate any and all security-related activities.

A process needs to be developed to deliver updated security

Vandalized Muslim cemetery in Illinois. information or threats to the board, management, employees,
volunteers, and the congregation, depending on the situation.

The security head should ideally have some law enforcement,

emergency-medical, fire, or security background, and would
be responsible for recruiting and training “ushers” and security
committee members. He/she would be the primary person
in charge of arranging for the purchase and maintenance of
security equipment and services.

This person will maintain a log of any significant security

incidents and is the primary contact with law enforcement.
Ideally, this person will have two or three designated alternates if
he or she is not available.

Mosques should consider a staff of ushers for the facility,

whose primary role should be maintaining security. Typically,
they would be deployed during services, holidays and special
events. At least one usher in the main entrance or reception
area would monitor people approaching and entering. In many
urban churches, these security ushers wear yellow windbreakers
with the word “security” on the back in letters large enough
to be read at a distance. They often, in larger churches, are
Hate graffiti on New York mosque. equipped with portable radios to communicate with each
other and sometimes a base station. Many are off-duty police
officers who are members of the congregation. Efforts, in larger
congregations, are made to recruit police and security personnel,
EMS and fire personnel and others with medical and emergency
management skills. It is recommended that mosques adopt a

4 Council on American-Islamic Relations

similar arrangement. If a threat of an active shooter is deemed
very serious (perhaps because of a series of threats or incidents),
Procedures
ushers could be equipped with personal alarms, to either emit a Procedures describe how an organization wants its policies
sound there and/or send a trouble alarm to police. carried out. These can vary in detail, depending on the situation
of each facility. Typically, the head security person would develop
Depending on the layout of the mosque, these security ushers
procedures based on direction from his/her superiors.
can be used as a means of expanding the surveillance of the
property in order to detect perpetrators of hate crimes - and in
the worst case scenario, the active shooter. Typically, this means
that the ushers are posted out away from the building, in the Security Equipment and Hardware
parking lot or on nearby streets and access points to the mosque.
The ushers act as a way of forcing the shooter to show his hand Equipment and supplies are determined by the needs shown
earlier, possibly delaying entry into the mosque, giving time to by the mosque risk assessment, its security plan, and whether
secure the building and to sound the alarm and alert authorities. and how it is used and monitored by the personnel involved.
Depending on financial resources, the equipment can be very
The ushers also are a first defense against the placement of modest or extremely elaborate. A tremendous assortment of
bombs near the building. On arrival for duty, a thorough perimeter security equipment is available, even within broad categories, so
check of the building should be done, along with a check of any it is important to make sure your selection of equipment fits into
areas recently accessible to the public or contractors. This should the overall plan, is cost-effective and is actually used. It is also
also be done on an at least daily basis by regular mosque office important that the equipment be professionally maintained. Basic
or maintenance staff. This practice establishes a baseline for security hardware that most mosques need to consider is listed
items that should be there versus items that should not. below, with some relevant comments:
Ushers, especially those in larger buildings, need to understand
their role in evacuation if it should be necessary. Each should
Barriers: Doors, Windows, Fences
understand the main evacuation routes in an emergency, along Doors should be solid wood or metal (with minimal glass) and
with alternative routes. are only as good as the locks and the door jambs that secure
them. Locks should be deadbolts installed by a professional
The signal to evacuate should be well understood by all. Special
locksmith, and should go at least 2.5, preferably 3 inches, into
attention needs to be given to the needs of any wheel-chair-
a steel jamb. It should not be possible to open the deadbolt by
bound, visually-impaired, or other disabled people.
breaking and reaching into a nearby window pane. If the lock is
Ushers, and others as needed, need to be aware of a threat that near such a window, it should open only with a key, but sliding
has become internal because the perpetrator is getting into or bolts and hotel-style bar locks can be present for quick securing.
has gotten into the building. Available countermeasures and (IMPORTANT NOTE: Emergency exits must be unobstructed.
responses are site and situation specific. Rooms that can be Check with fire officials to make sure all security measures
secured, where people can hide - at least temporarily - must be comply with local regulations.)
selected and prepared in advance.
Glass doors, or doors with a lot of glass near them, are not
It may be impractical to have full-scale, realistic drills such as recommended. Sliding bolts and chains can also be used to
those commonly done in elementary and high schools when the secure little-used doors that are not part of the main entrance
full congregation is present. Mosque boards may also consider when the congregation is not present and the building is closed
“walk-throughs” in which the usher staff practices evacuation for the night. But care must be taken to maintain emergency
themselves, with alternate spots of simulated shooters, egress should a fire or other emergency make escape important.
explosions or fires. It may be difficult to have regular rehearsals It is also recommended that at least one, possibly two, strong
with volunteers, considering possible staff turnover, but the more sliding bolts that can be closed from the inside be installed at
one does to prepare, the safer the congregation will be. the main entrances for use during services if an usher spots a
possible armed intruder approaching the building. This would
Alternate plans can be developed for evacuation of the building likely delay an intruder long enough for police to arrive and deal
due to a bomb threat, the discovery of a suspicious package and with the situation.
the threat of an active shooter.
The default condition of doors on a mosque should be “locked,”
Ushers with emergency medical skills should be pre-designated unless they’re being used, or open to the public for a function.
to respond to assist any injured persons, to the extent it would be
appropriate and safe to do so in a crisis.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 5

 Emergency exit doors must be kept unobstructed for emergency Alarms
egress. They must have locks that prevent outside entry but are
easily opened from inside. Easy access in emergencies and security A very basic piece of security equipment is the burglar alarm.
from intruders need to be checked regularly, at least weekly, during All outside window, doors and roof vents, if accessible, should
major services or during periods of high alert or crisis. be alarmed. In addition to sensors on those items, there should
be motion detection sensors strategically located throughout the
Windows are often a main point of entry for intruders if doors building. Buildings with extensive glass should also have glass-
are secure. All windows should be equipped with working locks. break detectors. Alarms must be tested regularly.
Windows at the rear and at the basement level need to have
screens or bars to delay any entry - keeping in mind the need for In addition to burglar alarms, smoke and carbon monoxide
a quick evacuation. There are bars available that lock from the alarms need to meet the fire department’s minimum standards
inside and swing open when unlocked. for occupancy. It is recommended that the system be integrated
into the building’s electrical system, with battery backup. An
If protection against thrown fire bombs is a consideration, added feature, for large facilities, would be an automatic alarm to
thick wire screens do offer some protection. More protection is the fire department in addition to sounding on site.
provided by glass-block windows, which provide light, but are
generally as solid as brick and cannot be easily broken. They One often-overlooked alarm is the panic or duress alarm, which
are a fine choice for lower level windows, and can have small acts in a similar manner to a holdup alarm. During times of crisis
openings with screens to allow fresh air in. and chaos, it may be difficult to quickly call the police, or present
a coherent picture of what’s going on. This alarm at least gets
Your local fire department can advise on whether security the police en route to your location as soon as it is processed.
you have in mind for windows is acceptable for fire escape. Phone calls to 911 are also necessary to let responding officers
Fire prevention staff from the local fire department should be know about details of the situation.
asked to do a walk-through of the premise with a view towards
preventing arson from thrown firebomb-type devices. In addition to the fire alarm, mosques of various sizes need to
consider a means of notifying congregations/occupants of a
Fences can be a useful barrier to delay entry to a possible threat to safety. These means may vary, though a public address
intruder, or at least channel their entrance into a particular system is widely used in schools.
direction so they can be observed by the security ushers. Fences,
in conjunction with security ushers, act to extend security of
the mosques so that it begins some distance away from the
building. Fences also delineate a property line, and if in good Cameras
condition, send a message of ownership of the property to
would-be trespassers. Most fences provide only a modest barrier The main advantage of cameras is their usefulness in
to entry and can be scaled by reasonably athletic and determined apprehension of the suspect following an incident. Most mosques
persons. Nevertheless, they do provide some delay, and the would do well to have at least a modest camera system.
climbing of this fence does enhance detection. The location and Generally speaking, their security value is only significant if
type of fence, and even if a fence is recommended, are very used in conjunction with other tools. Some, but by no means all,
site-specific. Stone, brick or other solid walls that cannot be seen people are deterred by cameras. Those people are deterred only
through are not recommended, as they reduce detection value. if they are aware that the cameras are there and believed to be
operational. Thus, cameras’ value is enhanced by signs warning
Safe rooms are designated secure places within a building that the area is under video surveillance 24 hours each day and is
to retreat to should the building come under attack by an being recorded.
armed intruder(s). Their use may not be practical for large
congregations, but mosques located in tornado-prone areas have Recordings should be sent off-site and stored on the Internet.
probably already made provisions for this eventuality for weather Having them recorded on site detracts from their value if the
events. The safe rooms should have solid doors and more than digital video recorder is damaged or stolen.
one means of exit - as well as sturdy locks that can be secured Camera installation is very site-specific. Mosques thinking of
from the inside without keys. acquiring or upgrading these systems are encouraged to get
several quotes and to deal with a local installation company.

6 Council on American-Islamic Relations

Hate graffiti being cleaned from the Islamic Center of the Shenandoah Valley in Harrisonburg, Va.

Grants Prevent
To help you prepare by purchasing security equipment, the In order to manage crimes against mosques, it is most important to
federal government has a number of resources available to try to not have them happen at all. Thus, prevention and deterrence
help secure religious and other non-profit organizations from in political, cultural and social methods is just as important as the
terrorism. security methods mentioned above. Ideally, all methods will be
interwoven with each other into a coherent whole.
• Visit www.fema.gov/preparedness for information about
non-disaster grants for the Urban Areas Security Initiative, Some strategies helpful in preventing security-related incidents:
Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
• The mosque leaders must engage in relentless community
• The Department of Homeland Security has a Center for Faith- outreach using the concept of community in its broadest
Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. They can be reached sense. This includes other faiths and their religious
at 202-646-3487 or emailed at [email protected]. institutions, immediate neighbors to the mosque building,
neighborhood associations, and business groups. Enlisting
• Information is available from the Department of Homeland neighbors as additional eyes and ears as part of the mosque’s
Security National Infrastructure Coordinating Center. They can security awareness program is an important bulwark of
be reached at [email protected]. mosque security.
• The Department of Homeland Security also has a Homeland • Offer the use of the mosque building (or appropriate parts of
Security Information Network, which one can visit at it) to religious or other local institutions whose own building
dhs.gov.hsin. One can email them for information at may have been damaged in a fire or flood or other mishap.
[email protected].
• Remember that the law enforcement community is your
• Useful information about grants for nonprofits is found at primary line of defense against criminal activity. They have
www.nonprofitexpert.com. arrest and enforcement authority and are armed and trained
in order to carry out their functions.
• Information on federal grants in general can be found at
www.grants.gov. • Personally get to know the commanding officer of the police
facility that is responsible for your area. Perhaps even more
important than knowing the commanding officer is to be
personally acquainted and friendly with the officer who is
regularly assigned to your beat.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 7

 • Similar contacts should be established with appropriate • Consider offering cultural training to police officers in your
political leaders (for example, mayor, city councilmen, area. One Sikh community in Southington, Conn., arranged
state legislators, etc.). The more outreach and personal for the training to be given to local police officers through the
relationships the better. U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service.

• It is important that relationships be established • Your security awareness program must train your security/ushers
before any incidents occur. in placing any potential adversaries under surveillance before or
at the time that they survey your facility. Most criminals survey or
• Make sure the police, your neighbors and other relevant “scout” the location of their future deeds first in order to assess
parties are aware of your days/times for regular services and the “softness” of the target and their ease of committing the
your schedule for holidays. crime and escaping. Your lighting, cameras, signs, and other
indications of security will work together with your ushers to
• Acknowledge good work by individual police officers, medics, fire
present the best deterrent possible.
personnel, and political leaders in their dealings with your Islamic
community with complimentary letters, phone calls, tweets, • Contractors, vendors, cleaning crews, and visitors, to the
social media postings, annual award events, and the like. extent practical or possible, should not be allowed to roam
the building with unfettered access to it, but should be
• Support various community events or fundraisers to the
accompanied to their area of work or visit.
extent possible.
• The organization’s website should be reviewed to ensure no
• Invite police and EMS and fire personnel to visit your site for
sensitive material is provided.
meetings, training, etc., to the extent appropriate and possible
without interfering with the religious mission. • Security measures, in general, and to the extent possible,
should not be discussed within the public arena. Be cautious
• Attempt to establish liaison with state and federal agencies in
about email inquiries that seem inappropriately to be seeking
the same manner as you did with the local police. Local police
information about the mosque.
may be able to facilitate this effort.

Arson-damaged interior of
the Islamic Center of Greater
Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.

8 Council on American-Islamic Relations

Lighting Respond/Mitigate
An important aspect of the planning, prevention and deterrence A general framework for response to incidents can and should
process is the lighting around the mosque itself. Crime prevention include elements of the following, tailored to the particular
theory posits that criminals don’t want to be seen, and to the incident, from a very minor incident to a very serious one:
extent that they are seen, they don’t want to be seen for long.
• Get help on the way. This can be by a panic alarm or by
Again, the particular lighting requirements for any particular calling 911. There should be someone on the staff (employee
facility are situational and site-specific. If new or additional or volunteer, with alternates) whose main duty is to call 911.
lighting purchases seem prudent for the mosque property, it is If there is a non-emergency situation, the contact person can
recommended that any new lighting meet or exceed the security call the appropriate number.
standards set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North
America, and use manufacturers listed in its directory. The • Ideally, there should be a single point of contact for
particular standards and tradeoffs for lighting can be highly information and directions to first responders - in effect,
technical, and vary by the particular site’s layout. a mosque “command post,” with the security person or
alternate in charge there.
If the mosque sits on its own property and land, the outer
perimeter should have lighting surrounding the property, ideally • Someone should be able to meet first responders, if at all
around the fence or property line. possible, with information, including

• What’s going on
Care needs to be taken so lighting from the mosque
property does not “bleed over” and interfere with neighbors • Where
inappropriately, causing “light pollution.” • Who is involved

Some parts of the building should have lighting on constantly after • As much detail is possible
dark, such as the main/front entrance and high-risk rear areas. • Request for medical attention if there
are injured persons
An additional security measure, particularly for less-used and
• Assist with access for emergency personnel,
less-traveled portions of the outer sides of the building, is
including crowd control as needed
motion-activated lighting that comes on with movement and
shines a powerful floodlight onto the area. This can have a
powerful psychological effect. • It should be clear, beforehand, who makes the call to shelter
in place or evacuate the mosque.
There has been some research showing, and it is widely believed
in security circles, that additional lighting discourages and • Once the incident is over and the mosque is secure, a review
reduces graffiti and burglary. of the incident should be conducted with those involved. What
worked? What didn’t? What can we learn? Are there follow up
Lights need to be inspected routinely, at least once a month. Any activities that we need to do?
burned-out fixtures need to be corrected.

Trim trees and bushes that obstruct light patterns.

Wire cages or industrial-strength shatter-resistant lenses should

be installed over the fixtures to prevent persons from throwing
objects at the fixtures to break them.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 9

 The following three security situations of • A vigilant security/usher staff can often give a proactive
wide concern are examples of cases requiring early warning to the beginning of the attack by approaching
prevention, response and mitigation: suspicious persons who are dressed or acting inappropriately
and may be hiding weapons. Unknown males with bulky,
Armed Intruder/Active Shooter camouflage, or combat-type clothing, for example, need to be
approached and asked if they can be helped.
In recent years, the term “active shooter” has gained traction
in the security community because of a number of high profile • Should the attacker engage persons outside the mosque,
shooting incidents, such as Columbine, Virginia Tech, and most every effort must be made to keep the intruder from getting
recently, the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin, the movie theater in inside the mosque in order to minimize casualties. As noted,
Colorado and the school in Connecticut. the mosque should have solid, secure doors, without large
expanses of glass, and with easily engaged locks to keep the
The “active shooter” typically begins shooting people, often intruder out as he approaches.
people they do not know or have any particular reason to shoot,
and keeps shooting. He keeps shooting, usually until police • The trouble alarm should be activated as soon as possible in
arrive, and then often takes his own life. Motivations vary, but order to get the police on the way.
the vast majority of these can be labeled “insider attacks,” in
• One or more designated persons should call 911 with as much
which the shooter had a connection to the institution where the
information as possible.
shooting occurred and was acting out a ceremony of revenge
because of some real or perceived slight. Many are obviously • Occupants should be alerted to the external threat, following
mentally ill, and most have made some intimation of their plans procedures established earlier. The appropriate notification
for revenge. system(s) may vary by mosque and size of the congregation,
but the important thing is that the occupants be alerted to
However, an attack by an outsider on an institution such as
the threat.
a mosque is virtually impossible to prevent once the attacker
begins the attack. Active shooter situations are unpredictable • If the intruder gets inside the building, the FBI coaches a basic
and evolve quickly. Typically, active shooter situations are formula for survival:
over within 15 minutes or less (the Columbine shooters killed
themselves about 14 minutes into the attack). It is too late • Get out. Escape the building if that is at all feasible.
for prevention, and the organization is placed into a mode of Leave all belongings behind. Do not attempt to assist or
response and mitigation: limiting and reducing the effects of the move wounded people. Survive!
armed attack as much as feasible. The immediate deployment of • Hide out. This is where a “safe room” might be
law enforcement personnel is usually needed to stop the shooter. applicable. Safe room procedures should previously
Before law enforcement arrives on the scene, the personnel at been formalized and established earlier during the
the mosque must be physically and mentally prepared to deal planning process, and additional locks installed if
with an attack. necessary. If no formal safe room is available, any
place in the building to hide from the gunman should be
There are some steps mosques can take to prepare to minimize utilized as soon as practical. If you are in a hallway, get
the effects of this kind of attack: inside an office. If you are in an office, stay there and
lock or block the door. Ideally the room can be locked
• Security precautions taken by the mosque should not be from inside, but if not perhaps furniture can be moved
discussed with outsiders - except to the extent necessary. against the door to block entrance. It is recommended
that the lights in the room be turned out, cell phones
• To the extent possible, the element of surprise needs to be turned off, and talking stopped in order to motivate the
taken from the attacker. It seems likely that there is usually perpetrator to look for victims elsewhere.
at least a modest pre-attack reconnaissance as part of his • Take out. If you find yourself confronting the gunman,
plan, so placing potential adversaries under surveillance with and your life is in danger, it is recommended to do
an extended security presence outward from the building may whatever you can to attack the suspect, shouting and
possibly deter, or at least allow security/usher staff to respond throwing things at him and then perhaps running to
quickly to an attack. escape. This action should be taken only as a last resort.

10 Council on American-Islamic Relations

Bomb Threats
Bomb threats can cause a great deal of anxiety and loss of time,
even if the bomb turns out to be non-existent. While they are often
distressing, one has to assess the threat by thinking about the
following three questions as to why the person is making the threat Vandals target Tennessee mosque.

(as opposed to simply placing a bomb and allowing it to go off):

1. To harass and disrupt the organization when there is no device.

Suspicious Package
2. To keep people from being hurt when there is a device.
Should someone at the mosque encounter a suspicious package,
3. To move people outside where there is a device. whether in response to a bomb threat, or happening on it during
day-to-day activities, the most important rules are:
The answer is that the motive for making the threat is almost • DON’T PICK IT UP OR TOUCH IT!
always number 1.
• Keep people away from it. Isolate the area. Use available
So, what are the recommendations if a mosque receives a threat personnel to assist in this.
of a bomb having been placed on the premises?
• Call 911. Advise first responders of the object’s location and
• Whoever receives the call by phone (or email) should attempt why you think it is suspicious.
to find out as much about the bomb as possible, namely
where it is, and when it is supposed to go off, etc. Be aware, The U.S. Postal Service has an extensive and detailed publication
however, that in most cases, the caller will not stay on the on the security of a mail receiving center. While the chances of
phone long or respond to emails. receiving a bomb or a chemical/biological attack through the mail
are extremely remote, is wise to train all personnel who handle
• The police should be notified via 911 and a report made. After mail in spotting signs of a suspicious package. The publication is
police are called, management should be made aware of the available on PDF and may be accessed via:
situation. The decision to evacuate must be made by a person http://about.usps.com/publications/pub166.pdf
pre-designated to make that decision. In most cases, after their
arrival, police will advise that any decision to evacuate should/ Briefly, suspicious packages may be those with poor, vague,
must be made by management, and that any search made on handwritten, or smeared addressing. Packages may appear
the premises for the bomb should be done with the mosque’s poorly or loosely wrapped and may have an oily appearance
own staff. In rare cases during times of crisis, management or smell. They may have wires protruding or appear unusually
should request, or police may suggest, a check of the building heavy. They may be addressed to someone who is no longer at
by a dog trained in explosive ordinance detection. that location or is unknown.

• A search should be conducted both inside and outside the When receiving an unexpected package, if doubt arises, it is
building. On the outside, the entire perimeter, to the extent best to contact the sender if possible. If the sender cannot be
possible, should be checked with emphasis on areas near contacted, a call to authorities may be warranted. If so, the
windows or doors, such as shrubbery, and unusual or package must be treated as suspicious, and police and postal
out-of-place objects or vehicles. Inside, a search should be inspectors should be contacted.
conducted of all areas accessible to the public, particularly
A smaller mosque should consider the utility of a post office box,
unlocked closets and bathrooms.
which would have the effect of keeping any suspicious objects
• Advise any occupants of the threat, but that you believe it is away from the mosque. Postal employee assistance can then
without credence. However, people may leave if they wish. easily be requested if any package appears doubtful.

• Management may always make the decision to evacuate

if they are more comfortable doing so. However, repeated
evacuations to a number of false threats usually lead to more
threats. Repeated bomb threats are usually a tactic to harass
and annoy an organization.

Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety 11

 Recover Additional Useful Links for More Contacts
and In-Depth Information:
It is fervently hoped that “recovery” never has to be deployed for a
Council on American-Islamic Relations
critical crisis. However, the factors involved in recovery can be useful
www.cair.com
for many sorts of events, from small-scale incidents to grave crises.
FBI
Despite the fact that this section is placed last in the handout, its role
www.fbi.gov
really fits into the planning and response processes. The preparation
for recovery must be done before recovery is ever necessary. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
(ATF) has evolved to be the primary investigative agency on
Some factors to consider:
bombs, bombings, arson, and gun-trafficking crimes.
• What is needed to sustain operation of the mosque? A
www.ATF.treas.gov
checklist should be developed via brainstorming among
board members and a checklist established of projects or The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
items to be accomplished in order to plan for recovery from a provides information, assistance, resources, and information on
worst-case scenario. preventing, preparing for and responding to disasters of all kinds.
www.fema.gov
• First and foremost, medical and psychological help needs to
be provided to those affected by any traumatic crisis. Ongoing The Illumination Engineering Society of North America
medical issues resulting from serious injuries are extremely has a directory of member manufacturers, and other resources
difficult and may last for years. Post-traumatic stress disorder related to the complexities and standards of lighting.
can also affect people many years after surviving a critical http://ies.org
incident. Thus a network of professionals, nearby mosques,
Imams, or simply other Muslims and other caring individuals in The Department of Homeland Security has information
the area, should be developed. Mosques or members of mosques about its Protective Security Advisors.
should not have to face hate crimes and harassment alone. http://www.dhs.gov/protective-security-advisors

• Off-site or “cloud” backup for critical records needs to be International Association of Professional
considered. Simple things such as serial numbers/pictures Security Consultants
of office equipment will facilitate insurance claims. Payroll www.iapsc.org
records, mosque membership information, insurance
contacts, vetted contractors, and similar critical information The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) is the
should all be considered. largest security organization in the world, and encompasses all
sorts of businesses and organizational environments.
• Legal follow up needs should always be considered, including www.asisonline.org
prosecution of arrested criminal suspects, as well as civil
action against offending parties for restitution. A contact list ASIS has a resource guide for houses of worship.
of local, friendly attorneys, particularly Muslims, should be http://www.asisonline.org/councils/documents/
developed. If intimidation is feared, witnesses and victims HOWS_resourceguide.pdf
should be encouraged to use the mosque as their address for The Southern Poverty Law Center is an organization
legal contact, and police should be made aware of the need dedicated to monitoring hate groups.
for possible protection. http://www.splcenter.org/
• Review lessons learned. Even the smallest of crises present The U.S. Postal Service has a guide to safely monitoring mail
the opportunity to learn about your deterrence ability, the in a mail receiving center.
viability of your plans, and most importantly, your responses http://about.usps.com/publications/pub166/
to the incidents. pub166fm_toc.htm
• What did the staff/volunteers of the mosque do right?
A website focusing on various issues dealing with security for
• What did they do wrong? (This is often the toughest houses of worship:
for any group to handle.) http://churchsecurityconsultant.com
• Should your security plan be amended?
• Were there any lessons to be learned for the
crisis next time?

12 Council on American-Islamic Relations

 The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
America’s Largest Muslim Civil Rights and Advocacy Organization

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is active coast Enhancing Understanding of Islam
to coast, with offices and chapters in more than 20 states, and
provides assistance to the entire American Muslim community. CAIR has carried out educational campaigns to enhance the
public’s understanding of Islam and American Muslims, including
Since its founding in 1994, CAIR has worked tirelessly to provide the “Explore the Quran” campaign that distributed free Qurans
a Muslim voice on local and national issues and to empower to people of other faiths, its public library project that provided
American Muslims. Islamic materials to more than half of America’s libraries and
its media education initiative that distributed the Journalist’s
CAIR’s Vision: To be a leading advocate for justice and Guide to Understanding Islam and Muslims to tens of
mutual understanding. thousands of media professionals.
CAIR’s Mission: To enhance understanding of Islam, encourage To address public misconceptions about Islam and Muslims,
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and CAIR representatives regularly appear on or are quoted
build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. in local, national and international media outlets. CAIR
produces public service announcements to help Americans of all
CAIR has grown to become the largest, most trusted and most
faiths understand Islam and the American Muslim experience.
effective civil rights and advocacy organization working for
American Muslims. CAIR distributes step-by-step guides to activists and
community leaders to help them reach out with educational
initiatives during Ramadan and on Muslim holidays.
Promoting Justice
CAIR also conducts vital studies on the American Muslim
CAIR attorneys and civil rights staff across the country work community and relevant policy issues. This unique data is
to protect the civil liberties of all Americans. collected in many publications, available at cair.com.

Every year, CAIR attorneys and staff help thousands of

American Muslims with cases of religious discrimination
in the workplace, in schools, at airports, and with government Empowering American Muslims
agencies. American Muslims have the ability to contribute to positive change
in the nation if they have the right tools and skills. CAIR trains
CAIR is the only American organization that produces annual
activists and community members on engaging the media,
reports documenting the status of American Muslim civil
running for elected offices and participating in civic activities.
liberties and the rise of Islamophobia.
Through its popular Muslim Youth Leadership Programs
CAIR also initiates legal and political campaigns on issues
(MYLP), CAIR prepares future leaders of the American Muslim
of national importance, such as its successful challenges to
community in the fields of media, law, government, public
anti-Islam bills introduced in dozens of state legislatures.
relations, philanthropy, and other spheres in which American
To prevent civil rights violations, CAIR delivers trainings and Muslims are underrepresented.
publish guides on American Muslims for professionals in the
Participants in CAIR internship programs receive practical
private sector with Fortune 500 companies, and in education,
training in the fields of law, civil rights, government and media
health care, law enforcement, and other fields.
relations, and community organizing.
CAIR publishes a free Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
Each year, CAIR trains dozens of interns in its national
pocket guide and delivers seminars and trainings across the
headquarters - just a few steps from Congress on Capitol Hill - and
country to inform American Muslims of their legal rights and
at chapters nationwide. These interns go on to spread a message
duties as citizens.
of justice and mutual understanding in their future endeavors.
CAIR also advocates for justice in American policies, both
CAIR voter registration, get-out-the-vote campaigns and
domestic and foreign, by engaging local, state and national
voter guides help empower the Muslim community through active
officials on a variety of important policy questions.
civic involvement.
Council on American-Islamic Relations

www.cair.com
202.488.8787
facebook.com/CAIRNational
Twi!er: @CAIRNational
youtube.com/CAIRtv

CAIR National Headquarters

453 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003

CAIR Chapters:
CAIR-Arizona CAIR-Missouri To find the nearest CAIR chapter, invite
CAIR-California CAIR-New Jersey a CAIR speaker, or to schedule a CAIR
CAIR-Connecticut CAIR-New York civil rights workshop, click on “Contact”
CAIR-Florida CAIR-Ohio at www.cair.com, call 202-488-8787, or
CAIR-Georgia CAIR-Oklahoma
email [email protected].
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