STAMFORD, CT — A Stamford man has been arrested following accusations that he shouted derogatory remarks at Muslim worshippers outside a mosque, prompting calls for hate crime charges from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT).
Police say Michael Slocum, 36, surrendered voluntarily on Tuesday after an investigation into the incident, which took place late Saturday night outside the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on Washington Boulevard. Slocum faces a single charge of breach of peace and has been released on a promise to appear in court on August 26.
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According to Farhan Memon, CAIR-CT chairman, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. as Muslim families were leaving the mosque. In cellphone footage posted by the civil rights group, a white SUV is seen blocking the entrance while a man is heard yelling inflammatory comments.
“Get the [expletive] out of here. Fifty-six Muslim countries in the world. Go pick one. Why you come to a Catholic country? Why?” the man shouts in the video, along with further insults toward Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
In a statement, Memon emphasized the seriousness of the act:
“While holding the individual accountable is important, the fact that this took place at a house of worship and directly targeted Muslims makes it a clear case for prosecution under Connecticut’s hate crime statutes. This was not simply disturbing the peace — it was an intentional effort to intimidate a religious community. The law is clear: targeting someone based on their faith is a hate crime.”
CAIR-CT is urging both the Stamford Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office to consider upgrading the charges to reflect hate crime provisions, which carry stricter penalties. The organization also encouraged residents to stay alert and report any incidents of bias, harassment, or hate directly to law enforcement and CAIR-CT.
